A Spring Hill man accused of shoplifting is now in federal custody after police say he sparked a short chase through a busy shopping area with two young children strapped into his SUV. The incident started during undercover patrols at The Crossings retail hub and ended with the driver bailing into nearby brush, leaving a woman and two small kids behind as officers closed in.
Officers quickly secured the children, who were reported to be about 2 and 5 years old, and kept them with the woman in the front seat while they searched the area. Police say they ultimately found the suspect hiding in tall grass and took him into custody without further incident.
According to WKRN, crime-suppression officers on Feb. 25 spotted a man they believed had just shoplifted at The Crossings and moved in for a felony stop. The driver, reportedly in a Nissan Murano, sped away and was later seen driving recklessly with his headlights off before finally pulling over. At that point, police say he jumped out and ran into heavy brush, leaving the woman and the frightened children inside the vehicle as officers chased him on foot and later pulled him from the undergrowth.
ICE Arrest And Identification
In a Facebook post, the Spring Hill Police Department said Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Nashville field office arrested Ramon Enrique Oliva Lao on March 11 following his release from local custody. The department identified him as a previously deported Cuban national and said he has a prior history of theft convictions and multiple pending felony matters.
The same post listed local counts that include evading arrest, child abuse and neglect, reckless endangerment and theft of property. Police emphasized that the children were secured at the scene and that the woman in the front seat was not charged in connection with the incident. Spring Hill Police Department.
Charges And Custody
Local reporting and jail records indicate the suspect was booked on state charges that include evading arrest, child endangerment and theft, and that he was being held on an ICE detainer after booking. WKRN also reported that body-camera footage captured officers ordering the man to surrender before he was taken into custody.
Police Tactics In Retail Corridors
Spring Hill’s crime-suppression unit has repeatedly targeted high-traffic shopping corridors for extra attention, using unmarked vehicles and teaming up with neighboring agencies to crack down on retail theft, according to the department. The Crossings shopping area and the 1000 block of Crossings Boulevard have been featured in recent enforcement updates, which describe similar proactive operations and interagency cooperation aimed at cutting off organized or repeat thefts before they spread. Spring Hill Police Department.
What Comes Next
Officials say the case will move through county court on the local charges while ICE weighs possible federal immigration action. Maury County Corrections provides online information about jail contacts and custody procedures for anyone trying to track an inmate or court status. The suspect’s bond and next court dates are expected to be set in the coming days as local and federal authorities coordinate their response. Maury County Corrections.
