Violet woman steals car left running as owner took items into her home, then fled and was caught when she collided with a sheriff’s patrol car

A woman was arrested still holding a beer bottle in her right hand after stealing a car in Violet when its owner left the engine running while unloading items into her home on Christmas Eve, then fleeing in the vehicle until she was caught after colliding with a sheriff’s patrol car, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Channel Spencer, 32, 2816 Daniel Drive, stole a Honda Accord in the 2100 block of Guerra Drive as its owner went into her home and left the engine running, the sheriff said.

A witness reported the thief headed toward St. Bernard Highway and the Sheriff’s Office alerted patrol deputies to look for the vehicle.

Deputies spotted the car going westbound on West St. Bernard Highway at Keane Drive in Chalmette and the driver fled at a high speed, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

In the 7500 block of West St. Bernard Highway in Arabi, the driver slammed the stolen car into the passenger side of a Sheriff’s Office patrol car and attempted to keep going but lost control and spun out, facing oncoming traffic.

When a deputy approached the suspect as she was in the vehicle she held her hands up, with an open 16-ounce bottle of beer still in her right hand.

Spencer was booked with theft of an auto, flight from officers, reckless operation, aggravated criminal damage to property and with having an open alcohol container in the vehicle.

It was also learned Spencer was a fugitive from New Orleans, where she was wanted on three outstanding warrants for her arrest issued in 2015.

Spencer is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond that was set at $50,000.