Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 6, 1990                   TAG: 9007060523
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CHASE DAMAGES PATROL CARS

The chase started after the Gala Grocery reported the theft of $15 worth of gas about 8 a.m.

A sheriff's deputy responding to the complaint spotted the car, which turned off U.S. 220.

According to police, the driver slowed for stop signs near Fincastle before reaching speeds of 80 to 85 mph after getting back on U.S. 220.

As officers tried to box in the station wagon, the driver started swerving it and banged into the sides of the patrol cars.

The car finally was stopped near Lord Botetourt High School and the driver placed under arrest.

Connie Lynn Ritter, 19, of Elliston, faces charges of petty larceny, reckless driving and failure to stop for police officers. She also faces three counts of destruction of county property in connection with about $4,000 in damage to the patrol cars.

Ritter was charged with driving on a suspended license by state police and auto larceny charges by Roanoke police.