Pair charged with numerous crimes

staff report

LIBERTY — A man and woman have been arrested and charged with numerous crimes after police said they stole from the Speedway gas station on Belmont Avenue and left a baby at the entrance of a nearby hotel when trying to avoid police.

John Hopkins, 19, who lists a Motor Inn Drive address, is charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass, endangering children and obstructing official business. Daranieces Brown, 18, also listing a Motor Inn Drive address, is charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and petty theft.

Hopkins pleaded innocent in Girard Municipal Court on Monday and is due back in court July 16. Brown will be arraigned in Girard Municipal Court today.

According to police reports, employees at the gas station had suspected the pair of shoplifting in the past and asked them to stay away from the business. Police received a call that they had come to the store just before 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Reports say officers met Brown outside the store and found several food items from Speedway in the pockets of her cargo pants. Police saw Hopkins, who was identified by store employees, walking with a baby stroller but lost sight of him. He was later seen walking nearby without the stroller.

Reports say Hopkins was taken into custody, and police saw the stroller left near the entrance to a nearby hotel. Inside the stroller was a 5-month-old baby. Reports say it was raining heavily.