Shoplifting Spree Suspect Who Allegedly Hit Stroller Turns Herself In
ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- One of two women allegedly seen on surveillance video shoplifting, then hitting a woman with a stroller in the parking lot, has turned herself in.
Ann Kelly of the Hill District turned herself into police late Wednesday afternoon after an arrest warrant was issued for her.
"There's a warrant for her arrest. Her family learned and they contacted me, and we are here today. We want to try and see what's going on here to answer the charges," defense attorney Blaine Jones said.
According to police, security inside the Kohl's store on McKnight road saw Kelly and another woman, who is a juvenile, take clothing from the store without paying.
Then police say the two got inside a parked car outside, they backed up into the security guard, and hit a mother with two small children in a stroller.
"It's my understanding that no one was hurt, and Ms. Kelly is happy that no one was hurt. I have not seen the report as of yet, and I"m glad that no one was hurt," Jones said.
Ross Township Detective Brian Ross said "we got a number of tips from from the public after the surveillance video was broadcast Monday night, and a witness took down the getaway car's license plate number."
Police say it also appears Kelly and her young partner may have been involved in a retail theft near the Monroeville Mall hours before the Kohl's shoplifting. Det. Kohlhepp said "we also received calls from a K-Mart security officer who recognized the women after a K-Mart shoplifting earlier in the day on Monday."
Melissa Cypher says she was just leaving the Kohl's along McKnight Road with her two young children, including a newborn, when the getaway car started to back up into her stroller.
It was a terrifying few moments for her, but luckily, her children were not hurt.
Cypher says when the vehicle started backing up, she began yelling into the car, telling the driver to stop because her two young kids were in the stroller.
"I was more angry than anything in that moment," she says. "More angry that they kept on going than stopping and continuing to back up."
Just after 5 p.m. on Monday, Ross Township Police say two women in their 20s shoplifted clothing from the store and ran out as a store security officer chased after them.
"She was coming after them, telling them she caught them on camera and got their information and that the police were on their way," said Cypher.
"The whole time, the security officer is banging on the window, telling them to stop, because they are hitting the baby stroller," said Ross Township Police Detective Brian Kohlhepp.
Cypher says she was cornered with nowhere to go with her 6-week-old baby and 3-year-old son in the double stroller.
The older model Ford actually had to back up twice to get out of the spot, also bumping into the female security officer.
"I couldn't believe that she actually did make contact with the stroller and didn't stop, didn't show any hesitation. Just kept on going," Cypher said. "Just thankful that we're okay and it wasn't worse and that my kids were in the stroller because the stroller kept them safe."
Anne Breia Kelly is expected to be arraigned Wednesday night.
The juvenile in the case will be charged separately.
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