BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Two women were arrested Friday after nearly hitting a police officer while fleeing after stealing more than $1,600 in Lululemon merchandise in Paramus, authorities said.
Teonmi-Allaqua Lincoln, 24, and Kimora Sledge, 27, of Brooklyn, were charged with organized retail theft and possession of burglary tools, and Lincoln was also charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, police said.
The theft was reported just after noon on Friday. Loss prevention officers at a Lululemon store at the Garden State Plaza Mall in Paramus said two women removed anti-theft sensors from clothes and left with the items. They then got into a white Mercedes, Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti said.
As police tried to stop the car, Lincoln, who was driving, "refused commands to stop and intentionally accelerated the vehicle toward a Paramus police officer," Guidetti said. "The officer was forced to take evasive action to avoid being struck."
The car sped away but crashed when Lincoln lost control in a turn at A&S Drive, police said. It hit a street sign and stopped at an embankment on the Oradell Animal Hospital property.
Then, both women took off on foot, police say.
Officer Julia Koenemund and Emergency Services Officer Ted Cebulski arrested both women.
Officers recovered recovered $1,660 of stolen merchandise, most from Lululemon and some from Skims, they said.
Both women were taken to the Bergen County Jail to await further court proceedings.
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