Columbia woman, 4 teens had stolen items in car after Lexington County chase

A Columbia woman and four teenagers had items stolen in a number of recent thefts when they were arrested after a pursuit Sunday, according to authorities.

Tia Quineese Murrell, 21, of Columbia, was charged with three counts of possession of stolen items and failure to stop for blue lights, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.

Amilyah Damtria Freeman and Tadestiny Aretrell Simpson-Veal, both 17, are each charged with three counts of possession of stolen items and breaking into a motor vehicle, the sheriff’s department said.

Two female suspects under the age of 17 also were charged with three counts each of possession of stolen items, officials said. They are not being identified because of their age as juveniles and have been released to family members.

“We received a call early Sunday morning about suspicious subjects walking around the Timberland Place subdivision,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in a release. “Deputies responded and noticed a car leaving the area at a high rate of speed. They used tire deflation devices on the fleeing car and stopped it on Highway 1.”

Items stolen from unlocked cars were found in the vehicle, officials said. Since June 1, thefts from vehicles have been reported in several Lexington County subdivisions including Brookdale, Challedon, Clearwater, Coldstream, Palmetto Shores, Whiteford and Woodmill, Koon said.

“This case serves as a good reminder to lock your car every time you get out of it,” Koon said. “It’s also important to take all electronics, purses, wallets and other valuables inside with you. Don’t leave anything in plain view when you park your car.”

This story was originally published August 20, 2018 at 2:17 PM.