Louisiana girl helps police chase shoplifter suspect in her personal automobile

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A Louisiana mom of three was honored Tuesday for lending police a hand—or on this case, her automobile—to assist an officer chase down a suspected shoplifter over the weekend.

The pursuit started Saturday at a Dillards retailer in Slidell when Sgt. Jeff Kahrs was alerted to a shoplifting in-progress, the Slidell Police Division stated.

The suspect, later recognized as 34-year-old Kelsey Baird, of Navarre, Florida , noticed Kahrs getting into the shop and discarded the gadgets she was allegedly attempting to steal, in accordance with police.

When Kahrs tried to cease Baird from leaving the shop, she ran by the car parking zone and jumped right into a automobile that was ready exterior, police stated, including that the automobile was pushed byBaird's boyfriend, 43-year-old Eric Boudreaux, of Biloxi, Mississippi.

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A shoplifter, later recognized as 34-year-old Kelsey Baird, makes an attempt to run away from Sgt. Jeff Kahrs at a Dillards retailer in Slidell, La., on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Slidell Police Division)

Police bodycam video reveals Kahrs chasing Baird till she hops into the ready automobile and speeds off by the car parking zone. That is when a kindly stranger stops and asks Kahrs if he wants a trip.

"Wish to hop in?" the nice Samaritan says.

Samaritan stopped within the car parking zone to supply Sgt. Jeff Kahrs a trip throughout the pursuit of shoplifting suspects on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Slidell Police Division)

Kahrs accepted the help and received within the automobile, serving to the girl navigate to chase down the suspects.

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"The citizen-officer duo security adopted the suspects, whereas Sgt. Kahrs gave a play to play to responding officers through his police radio," police stated in a press release.

Moments later, backup arrived to assist take the suspects into custody.

Eric Boudreaux, 43, was charged with theft and resisting an officer by flight. (Slidell Police Division)

Each Baird and Boudreaux had been charged with theft and resisting an officer by flight. Baird was moreover charged with meth possession.

Kelsey Baird, 34, was charged with theft, resisting an officer by flight and meth possession. (Slidell Police Division)

Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau thanked the nice Samaritan for lending his officer a hand.

"To the nice Samaritan, who I spoke with this morning, individuals like you're the motive why Slidell is a good place to stay and work," the chief stated. "With out hesitation, you assisted certainly one of our officers …anticipating nothing in return."

On Tuesday, police recognized the nice Samaritan as Lesli Smith, a citizen of Slidell, and offered her with the Citizenship Award throughout a ceremony with police and Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal.

Police recognized Leslie Smith as the nice Samaritan who helped Sgt. Jeff Kahrs catch the shoplifting suspects. Smith was awarded Slidell's Citizenship Award on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Slidell Police Division)

"All I used to be pondering on the time was, ‘How might I assist,’" the mom of three stated.

Smith added that she lived in Slidell all her life and wished to emphasise how impressed she was with the police division’s onerous work and response to the alleged shoplifting.

"I used to be so impressed, that was my most essential factor I wished to return throughout," Smith advised reporters on the ceremony. She added that after she dropped Kahrs off to apprehend the suspects, she made a U-turn and went again to buying at TJ Maxx.