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2 arrested in Valley police chase had connections to stolen check scheme, court documents say

Video from Sky12 shows several crashed vehicles near where the crash ended near 20th Street and Indian School Road.

PHOENIX — Two people were arrested after a pursuit in central Phoenix that ended in a crash, according to authorities. 

Investigators learned that the two may have come to Arizona to carry out a scheme to steal purses and cash stolen checks, court documents stated.

The incident reportedly started in Glendale where city police officers were conducting surveillance on a vehicle involved in a felony offense. When a marked police vehicle tried to stop the car, it fled, police said. 

Undercover units reportedly followed the vehicle, which dropped off a passenger at a separate location. 

Upon leaving that location, the suspect vehicle crashed into an unmarked Glendale patrol unit. The officer was uninjured. The suspect vehicle then hit another vehicle near 20th Street and Indian School Road.. The person in that vehicle suffered minor injuries.

Sky12 captured images of several crashed vehicles near where the crash ended.

Credit: Sky12

Both the driver and passenger of the suspect vehicle were arrested. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Elijah Parker, who allegedly told police he was visiting from Florida. The passenger was identified as Rachel Arnick, who documents say is from Colorado.

The pair allegedly told investigators that they'd come to Arizona to carry out several crimes. Arnick, who is currently on probation, told police that she knew Parker, and he allegedly paid her $500 to assume different identities and cash stolen checks at various banks, court documents stated.

Police said they found evidence linking the two to other vehicle burglaries and identity theft incidents prior to the chase and crash.

 

 

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