Peabody Police Arrest Three Members of Organized Retail Crime Group

Peabody Police arrested three female suspects who are part of an East Coast organized retail crime group following a brief chase from the Northshore Mall parking lot onto Lowell Street that injured one officer.

Meanwhile, the State Police Air Wing is currently aiding the search for a male suspect who Peabody Police say exited the vehicle.

According to Peabody Police Det. Peter Olson, the suspects were under surveillance for several weeks by many law enforcement agencies along the East Coast and New England. On Tuesday morning, Peabody Police and Gap security officials set up surveillance.

The three suspects were spotted in a 2010 Ford Fusion sedan and Peabody Police Det. Ralph Scopa attempted to stop the vehicle near Shaw's Supermarket behind the Northshore Mall, according to Olson.

The vehicle continued on at a normal rate of speed and went through a red light located at Prospect Street at the mall exit, according to police.

"Scopa pulled his unmarked police cruiser with lights and siren in front of the vehicle and ordered the suspects out of the car. The vehicle began to drive forward at the officer and then abruptly drove in reverse at a high rate of speed striking an undercover police vehicle driven by Lt. Scott Richards causing major damage to the vehicle," reads a Peabody Police press release.

Richards was transported to the hospital and released later on Tuesday, according to police.

The suspects then drove down Prospect Street and headed west onto Lowell Street past Su Changs restaurant, according to police. Witnesses told police they saw the suspects throw bags out the windows that later turned out to be hundreds of credit cards..

Near the area of  Rolling Hills, police charged the driver, Chardee Orr, 21, of Staten Island, N.Y., with receiving stolen property over $250 and identity fraud, possession of stolen credit cards, unlicensed operation,  assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and failure to stop for a police officer.

The two passengers, Na Draithwaite, 24, of Staten Island, N.Y., and Kaliesha McCoy, 21, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were charged with numerous offenses that were still being determined Tuesday.

“This was a great example of the Police and Private sector working together to stop an organized retail crime ring” said Deputy Chief Martin Cohan. “These organized groups cost consumers and businesses untold amounts of money every year through their various criminal activities. We will continue to work with our private sector partners to stop them and protect Peabody businesses and the community.”