A woman allegedly used children to shoplift from Dick's Sporting Goods at Kenwood Towne Centre on Aug. 7, then crashed her car with the kids still inside after fleeing police.
Kianna McMeans, 38, of East Price Hill, appeared in Hamilton County Municipal Court on Friday after the incident at the shopping center adjacent to Hyde Park, according to WKRC.
Police said McMeans used the children to steal merchandise from the Dick's Sporting Goods store. Officers did not specify what was taken or its value. When they tried to stop McMeans for the theft, she fled in her vehicle with the children still inside.
A short pursuit ended when McMeans crashed near Kenwood Towne Centre with several children in the car.
Charges filed
McMeans faces charges of endangering children and obstructing official business. The case is pending in Hamilton County Municipal Court, which handles misdemeanor and lower-level felony cases in Cincinnati.
Police have not said how many children were in the vehicle or disclosed their ages. Whether anyone was injured in the crash has not been confirmed.
Local shopping destination
The incident unfolded at a shopping center that draws heavy foot traffic from Hyde Park, Oakley and Mount Lookout. Kenwood Towne Centre sits just north of Hyde Park along Kenwood Road, and Dick's Sporting Goods anchors the east side of the mall property. Shoppers and families frequent the area on weekday evenings and weekends.
No additional details about the circumstances of the theft or the pursuit have been released by police. McMeans' next court date has not been announced publicly.
Residents who witness suspicious activity near Kenwood Towne Centre can contact Cincinnati Police District 2 at 513-979-4400 or Sycamore Township Police at 513-791-8447, depending on the jurisdiction. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to CrimeStoppers at 513-352-3040.
