Mother of police car theft suspect talks

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Tasha Johnson pleaded not guilty to assault and burglary charges. Back in July police said Johnson was stealing batteries from the Dollar General store on Lott road when authorities were called. Johnson's mother addresses her daughter's charges after the hearing.

"She says she didn't realize she had done it, so it's a lot. They said on TV meth, wrong answer, if anything it was for an X-box," said Johnson's mother Vanessa Porter.  

The incident, however, didn't stop there. Police said after Johnson was put into a patrol car, she managed to get her handcuffed hands in front of her body, then jumped into the driver's seat. Police said when Johnson took off, they fired shots at the car.

"It was all uncalled for. She had just lost a baby and since she lost Isaiah, she just went down the deep end. She wasn't thinking," said Porter.

Police were finally able to put Johnson back in custody after she hit another car on Lott road. Johnson told her mother she was shot, but Prichard police said there were no signs of that. Johnson's attorney, Harding Fendley, said he was told his client's shoulder was grazed by a bullet.

"I understand that stealing a police car is dangerous to your heath but my client tells me she was backing up and police were in front and fired 16 shots," said Fendley.

Johnson continues to be held without bond because she was on probation at the time of her arrest. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 30.