FUNKSTOWN - A Baltimore man was taken into police custody Wednesday night following an alleged theft at Prime Outlets Hagerstown and a police chase that ended in Funkstown, Maryland State Police said.
Trooper 1st Class Doug Bittinger alleged the man was seen by a manager leaving one of the stores at the outlet center at 8 p.m. with merchandise for which he did not pay.
Bittinger said state police troopers chased the man's 2002 Dodge minivan in the parking lot, north on Sharpsburg Pike into Hagerstown, through areas near Washington County Hospital and Frederick Street in the city, and into Funkstown before losing sight of the vehicle.
About five minutes later, following tips from a witness who reportedly saw a man throwing bags out of a minivan near a residence, a Washington County Sheriff's Department deputy was able to make a traffic stop on Baltimore Street, Bittinger said. The man was taken into custody at 8:16 p.m., Bittinger said.
