CMPD searches for man they say stole 2 cars, hit police car

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were searching Thursday for a man they said stole two cars in one day.

Investigators said when they caught up with him, he crashed one of the cars into a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department cruiser with another officer inside.

The crime spree all started at a used car dealership on Independence Boulevard called Auto Queen Used Cars.

Police said the suspect walked in and pretended that he was interested in buying a car. They said the car dealer believed the suspect and even took him to a BB&T Bank on Monroe Road where they said he pretended to take out money to buy the car.

Surveillance pictures showed him walking in and briefly talking to the teller. Once back at the car dealership, police said he stole a white Chevy Impala and took off.

A police report said the suspect crashed the stolen car on Zelda Lane in Mint Hill and then stole a 2007 Kia from a nearby church parking lot.

Later, an officer spotted the stolen car driving down Rose Vite Place near Barrington Drive in West Charlotte.

Detectives said the suspect used the stolen car to crash into the CMPD cruiser that pulled him over. One of the officers had to jump into the car to prevent being hit.

Police said the suspect is between 6 feet, 3 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches with brown skin and appears to be in his early 30s. He was wearing all black clothing with a black do-rag.

WSOC