CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A Monday evening theft in progress at a farm supply store along U.S. Route 23 escalated into a frantic scene involving foot pursuits through a nearby fast-food restaurant, false identities, and two suspects captured with outstanding warrants.
Circleville Police Officers Joseph Harrington and Angelica Verduga responded around 7:00 p.m. on September 28 to a report of shoplifting in progress. Upon arrival, officers spotted a tan Buick sedan bearing Ohio registration KZG6270 attempting to leave the parking lot. Officer Harrington initiated a traffic stop, immediately directing a female passenger who attempted to walk away from the vehicle to remain at his cruiser.
Events quickly deteriorated as Officer Verduga began questioning a male accomplice in a blue shirt and jeans, later identified as 60-year-old Bobby Wisecup. After initially providing his name and date of birth, Wisecup rattled off his Social Security number rapidly multiple times before abruptly taking off on foot across the lot toward a neighboring Burger King.
Officer Harrington gave chase, pursuing Wisecup onto the restaurant property, where he brought him to the ground and placed him under arrest. When asked why he ran, Wisecup admitted he had an active warrant.
While officers were taking Wisecup back to the cruiser, bystanders and Burger King staff alerted officers that the detained female passenger had slipped away and fled inside the restaurant. Officer Verduga located the woman locked inside the women’s restroom. After officers banged on the door, she unlocked it, claiming she simply had to use the facility.
Store management informed police that the duo had entered the store carrying a large, empty Michael Kors bag. Employees monitored the pair as they gathered merchandise, but a sharp-eyed employee managed to step outside to the Buick before police arrived and successfully retrieved all the stolen merchandise from the vehicle. In total, $136.47 worth of items—including outdoor lights and kids’ Carhartt shirts meant for a birthday gift—were recovered.
The female suspect initially gave officers false personal details, identifying herself first without ID and later as Andrea Davis. However, during booking at the Pickaway County Jail, corrections officers and deputies utilized the LEADS database to uncover her true identity: Angel Bird. Authorities confirmed Bird also had an active warrant out of Ross County and had lied to avoid detection.
Bird was charged with Theft, Obstruction of Official Business, and Failure to Disclose Personal Information.
Wisecup was charged with Theft and Obstruction of Official Business. Prior to his final booking, Wisecup was rejected at the Pickaway County Jail due to dangerously high blood pressure. He was transported by officers to Berger Hospital, where he was treated, medically cleared, and subsequently transferred back to jail.
