By Michael R. Moser / mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com
A Lake Tansi area man who told police he exited a local retail store to find someone burglarizing his vehicle said he chased the suspects out of the city but that the pursuit ended when the culprits stopped and produced a weapon and ball bats.
Russell A. Ratliff of Pomo Circle told police that around 3:15 p.m. Friday he traveled to the Elmore Shell but because the parking lot was full, was forced to park in the Kmart parking lot.
When he exited the convenience store he spotted his driver's door open and saw a black Nissan Maxima leaving the scene. Inside his vehicle he discovered a checkbook, debit card and three prescription bottles missing, according to Ptl. Jacob Brink's report.
Ratliff told police he then chased the Nissan north on Hwy. 70 N to the Creston area. The suspect's vehicle suddenly stopped and men in the vehicle exited brandishing baseball bats and a handgun, according to the report.
At the point Ratliff said he backed away and called police. A tag number was supplied to police and an investigation is continuing.
