PCSO arrests three in connection to San Tan Valley Wal-Mart robbery, pursuit
Feb 2, 2014, 2:56 PM | Updated: 2:56 pm
PHOENIX — At 5:40 p.m. MST Friday night, officials with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at a Wal-Mart in the San Tan Valley, where three alleged shoppers were loading plastic bins with stolen merchandise from the store.
After the call was made, the three shoppers were seen running toward a vehicle, described later as a red Pontiac Grand Am.
Upon arrival at the scene, a PCSO deputy witnessed 22-year-old Miguel Nino running towards the vehicle. The officer then parked his motorcycle in front of the suspects’ vehicle in an effort to stop their movement.
After seeing the bin of stolen merchandise in the back seat of the car, the deputy handcuffed a 16-year-old male passenger before dealing with Nino.
However, at the point in which the officer began to deal with Nino in the driver’s side of the vehicle, the handcuffed male passenger managed to run through the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Nino, then, grabbed the keys to the vehicle and sped off, nearly running over the deputy, who still was by the driver’s side.
With the help of other PCSO patrol deputies, the vehicle was eventually located in the area of Sierra Vista Road and Bella Vista Road after a 45-minute pursuit.
Upon being discovered, Nino and the lone female passenger, identified as 19-year-old Lynasie Connally ran off to hide.
A K-9 unit was called to the scene, and around 45 minutes after the time they had initially fled, the two passengers were found in a thick bush and promptly arrested.
According to an official with the PCSO, deputies recovered $334 worth of stolen merchandise, ammunition rounds and a methamphetamine pipe.
Nino was booked into the Pinal County Jail for aggravated assault on a peaceful officer, resisting arrest, unlawful fight, reckless driving, aggravated DUI, shoplifting and possession of stolen property.
Connelly was also booked in the PCSO County Jail for shoplifting an aggravated assault.
The handcuffed 16-year-old was also later found, arrested and booked for shoplifting escape and trespassing.
