Pekin woman arrested for auto theft, other charges

By: 
Staff Writer Kate Wehlann

Natasha Spurling, 37, Pekin, was arrested on Sunday, April 5, and preliminarily charged with auto theft, public intoxication and resisting arrest.

Salem Police Sergeant James Moore was dispatched to Walmart, where the owner of the stolen vehicle, William Sizemore, said he left his vehicle unlocked, with the keys inside, and went into the store. When he came out, the vehicle was gone.

While officers were inside looking at security footage, dispatchers informed them the stolen vehicle had been found at the Mulberry Street Dollar General. The officers made their way to the other store, while the caller, Sizemore’s wife, Eden, who noticed the stolen car at the parking lot had her husband’s car blocked in with her vehicle, and the driver of the stolen vehicle was trying to back into Sizemore’s vehicle.

Eden Sizemore said she had been on her way to pick up her husband after he called to tell her his car was stolen, when she noticed the car in the Dollar General parking lot, blocked the vehicle in and called 911.

She said while she was on the phone with dispatchers, a window rolled down on her husband’s car and a woman called out, “Well, is he going to take me to get my car? He owes me money.”

When State Trooper Kyle Taylor arrived at the parking lot, he said the driver of the stolen car, a woman, later identified as Spurling, took off running. Deputy Wayne Blevins said she ran behind O’Reilly’s and was heading toward Meadow Dell Village. Moore arrived at the scene and tried to find her, but he couldn’t see her.

Officers continued to search for Spurling, and loss prevention at Walmart sent a photo of the suspect to police to aid in their search.

When both Sizemores arrived at the scene at Dollar General, they noticed a purse that didn’t belong to them inside the stolen car.

Spurling was eventually found hiding in some bushes at the end of Meadow Dell and was arrested.

Moore said she was mumbling and couldn’t stand without help.

When she was brought to the Washington County Detention Center, Moore said she had trouble staying on track with what police asked her. She didn’t seem to remember being at Walmart. Moore said, at the beginning of the interview, she could only remember being in the bushes. Then she told police, “Anytime you overdose, it takes you a minute … When you overdose, this is what I’m saying first of all, and now I’m facing two cops. I did some crazy s***. The craziest thing I’ve ever done.”

She told officers she didn’t remember what drugs she had overdosed on.

Spurling still seemed confused when police asked her about how she chose the car she stole. She said she couldn’t remember the color of the vehicle.

She told police, “I just wanted to get away,” but didn’t say from what.

Moore continued to try to ask questions about what happened that night, but Spurling said she wanted to stop talking.

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