Marietta Mom Allegedly Flees Cops with Unrestrained Kids, Topping 120 MPH

A Marietta mom wanted on felony shoplifting charges drove 120 mph while her children were unrestrained in the back seat as she allegedly fled from police Thursday through Cobb and Bartow counties before crashing in Gordon County.

Mieesha Straleeta Kingstro, 36, of Bells Ferry Road in Marietta, had allegedly just eluded a Cobb County sheriff's deputy trying to arrest her on the outstanding warrants when a Bartow patrolman spotted the black Chevrolet Impala described in a "lookout." It was headed northbound on Interstate 75 about 4 p.m., according to the Bartow County Sheriff's Office incident report, attached.

The deputy clocked the 2012 Impala at 91 mph in a 70 mph zone and gave chase, but the car accelerated and used the emergency lane in the median to pass slower traffic, a deputy reported.

"The vehicle continued down Interstate 75 northbound at speeds in excess of 120 mph, driving across all lanes of travel (and) using both emergency lanes to pass vehicles, causing several vehicles to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision," the deputy wrote. "As we entered into Gordon County, the vehicle nearly struck two patrol (cars occupied by officers who) attempted to slow the vehicle down. The vehicle continued at speeds over 120 mph as the driver proceeded through a construction work zone."

Georgia State Patrol troopers eventually deployed stop sticks at mile marker 315, but the Impala "turned sharply into the median to avoid the stop sticks and struck a concrete culvert, causing the vehicle to leave the ground," according to the report. "The vehicle landed in the median and turned back into the roadway, but was unable to continue due to loosing its rear passenger side wheel, so the vehicle turned back onto the median."

When it came to a stop by a metal guard rail, Kingstro allegedly fled on foot, hopping the guardrail and running into southbound traffic. Deputies followed and apprehended Kingstro, whose license had been suspended in March for failing to appear in court. 

Her children, ages 1 and 4, "appeared in an extreme state of shock and the (older child) was visibly upset and crying" when police found them crouched in the rear floor of the Impala after the crash. Authorities say Kingstro's adult passenger, a 62-year-old Marietta woman, was not an active participant in the chase. She was not jailed or charged in connection with the incident.

The woman told police that during the pursuit, she told Kingstro several times to stop the car and thought she and the kids were going to die.

EMS examined the passenger and the children, who sustained superficial wounds, according to the sheriff's office report. Authorities also called in the department of family and children's services.

In addition shoplifting, first-degree cruelty to children and a number of other allegations related to the chase, Kingstro faces a DUI charge. Cops say they smelled burned marijuana in the crashed Impala, but didn't find any drugs during a search.

Kingstro allegedly had glossy eyes and displayed other signs of being under the influence of marijuana, such as a dry mouth and mumbled speech, the deputy reported. 

Already wanted by Bartow authorities on the shoplifting warrants, Kingstro also was charged with first-degree cruelty to children, reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs, endangering the life of a child by driving under the influence, speeding, speeding in a work zone, improper child safety restraints, improper lane change, obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude police, and driving while license suspended.

Kingstro also could face additional charges in connection with the earlier Cobb pursuit, Cobb County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Bell said. That investigation is still ongoing.

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