Shoplifting suspects arrested after fleeing Omaha Police

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Omaha Police arrested two people Friday after an officer said the shoplifting suspects pointed a gun at them before fleeing the scene.

OPD said in a news release Friday evening that Ve’Angelo Moore, 20, and Natalya Cooper, 19, had been arrested.

Moore was booked on charges of assault on an officer, resisting arrest, using a weapon to commit a felony, shoplifting, and marijuana charges. Cooper was booked on charges of accessory to a felony, flight to avoid arrest, and shoplifting.

According to the Omaha Police report, an off-duty officer working at the Walmart location near 72nd and Pine streets had attempted to stop two shoplifting suspects.

“A physical altercation between the officer and the two suspects happened inside the store when the officer attempted to detain them,” the report states. “During that physical altercation, a handgun fell off of Moore’s person and onto the floor. Moore picked up the handgun where he then pointed the firearm toward the officer.”

The two left the scene in a black Ford sedan with police in pursuit. Police said Moore got into the car driven by Cooper, and they drove off.

The chase continued south on 72nd Street to Interstate 80, then west to I Street, then to I-680 north before heading east on West Center Road and eventually through a Canfield’s parking lot. The drivers then went south on 84th Street back to I-80, then headed west to Harrison Street before crashing into a truck that was trying to avoid them near 110th Street.

The chase ended several minutes later near 110th and Harrison streets after the vehicle crashed into a truck that had tried to get out of their way. There were three women in the truck, but they were not injured, Officer Ramos said.

OPD Lt. Neal Bonacci told 6 News on Friday afternoon that police were working on a search warrant to locate the suspect’s gun.

“I’m just thankful everybody is OK and that this didn’t end tragically,” Bonacci said.

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Managing Editor Kevin Westhues contributed to this report.

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