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A Suffolk man was arrested Wednesday on charges related to stealing a car from a convenience store that had a child in it.
Juwan O’Shae Allen, 27, Suffolk, was taken into custody without incident, police said in a news release. Allen faces charges that include grand larceny (motor vehicle theft), abduction, child endangerment and petit larceny. In addition to the charges, he was served with an outstanding warrant — a capias for failure to comply with support obligations.
On May 24, 2023,
The Suffolk 911 Center received a call at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, from an adult male who advised his green Chevrolet Malibu had been stolen and his 6-year-old daughter was in the back seat at a convenience store in the 800 block of West Washington Street. It was reported that an unknown individual took the vehicle, which was parked near the gas pumps and was left unlocked and running.
Responding Suffolk Police Officers immediately began canvassing the area for the vehicle, searching video footage and checking all license plate recognition cameras. Officers quickly obtained footage of the suspect and distributed it to officers and other jurisdictions, according to the department’s release.
At 6:44 a.m., the Suffolk 911 Center received a call from a citizen who advised of a young girl outside in the 2000 block of Smalley Dam Circle who said she was lost. When officers arrived at the location, the release said they were able to confirm the lost juvenile female was the child from the stolen vehicle. The child was uninjured and reunited with her father.
At 6:54 a.m., Suffolk Police using LPR cameras determined the stolen vehicle was on Pretlow Street in the City of Franklin. A notification was made to both Franklin Police and Southampton County Sheriff’s Office.
Franklin Police located the vehicle at 7:25 a.m. unoccupied in the 300 block of Edwards Street. Franklin Police observed the suspect by the location of the recovered vehicle but he fled on foot, the release stated.
Southampton Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist with tracking the suspect using a K-9 unit.
Suffolk Detectives, Franklin Police and Southampton Deputies continued to canvass the area and showed citizens the surveillance photograph of the offender. At 9:04 a.m., thanks to the assistance of several citizens, police said Allen was located at the rear of a residence in the 600 block of Hayden Drive.
Allen is currently being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail with no bond.
The Suffolk Police Department expressed their appreciation for the teamwork with the Franklin Police Department, Southampton County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Franklin on this case.
The investigation remains ongoing at this time, and there is no further information available for release.
If anyone has information regarding this incident, contact Suffolk Police or Suffolk Crime Line. To submit online, go to www.p3tips.com, visit the Suffolk Police Department website (www.suffolkva.us/spd) and look for the Suffolk Crime Line link, or go to the Suffolk Police Department Facebook page at www.facebook.com/suffolkpolicedepartment. Residents can also call 888-LOCK-U-UP, 1-888-562-5887, Option 5. Once a person submits a tip, they will be given a TIP ID and password. With this information they can login at p3tips.com and submit follow-up information, engage in two-way dialogue, be informed of the outcome of the tip, and access any pertinent reward information.