Two arrested after high-speed chase
A vehicle that led police on a high-speed chase along Interstate 79 and into Canonsburg is towed from the scene.
Travis Lamont Moore Jr.
Quantessa Michelle Huffman
Two cousins from Ohio tried to make a quick getaway after allegedly stealing from at least one store at Tanger Outlets in South Strabane Township Friday. But their run came to an end in Canonsburg when they were caught just off Cavasina Drive with their car full of merchandise, according to police.
The driver, Travis Lamont Moore Jr., 25, of Dayton, is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. Police expect to amend the complaint at his preliminary hearing Wednesday to include retail theft. Quantessa Michelle Huffman, 25, also of Dayton, is charged with felony retail theft, possessing instruments of a crime and receiving stolen property.
Officer Carmine Molinaro was called about 12:30 p.m. to the outlet’s H&M store for a retail theft. When he arrived, the store manager said a man and woman stole merchandise and went to a silver vehicle in the parking lot.
When Molinaro tried to back up his cruiser, the car almost struck him before fleeing down Tanger Boulevard. Police said Moore went through a red light, crossing three lanes of traffic before making a right turn on to Interstate 79 northbound.
Molinaro said North Strabane Township and state police were on the highway in front of Moore’s car as he passed the northbound I-79 Canonsburg on-ramp. Police said Moore then drove across the median into the southbound lanes and merged onto the Canonsburg exit on McClelland Road. He stopped the car on Cavasina Drive, leaving Huffman in the car as he ran behind a Pizza Hut where he was caught by police.
Beth De Maagd said she was in a vehicle going north on I-79 near Canonsburg when she said spotted the car go onto the shoulder of the highway as it was being followed by four police cars.
“They had to had to have been going 100 mph,” De Maagd said. “Then he did a (u-turn).”
During their arraignment, Huffman told District Judge Jay Weller she works in home health care with clients in the Pittsburgh area. She claimed to be in the area to see a client. Huffman also said she had four kids and had to call an aunt to pick them up.
Moore told Weller he works for his mother’s day care business.
Huffman also was concerned with the presence of the media.
“Are they going to make me look bad because I am not a bad person,” Huffman told the judge.
Weller told her the public has the right to know what is happening.
Molinaro told Weller they both were arrested in the past, she for theft and retail theft and Moore for shoplifting. Huffman also is wanted in Clark County, Ohio, for robbery. Huffman started crying when Weller told her she would be house in the Washington County jail without bond because of the robbery warrant.
“I have four kids and clients,” she told him as she started crying. “I don’t understand.”
Weller told her she came a long way to allegedly commit the crimes. He set bond for Moore at $50,000.
Molinaro said he will review surveillance from stores at the outlets because he believes they may have been there Thursday as well. The officer told Weller the car was filled with merchandise. Huffman had a red bag lined with aluminum foil to block security sensors. He also will contact Robinson Township police in Allegheny County to see if they had any similar thefts.