Woman Fleeing ATM Robbery Hits 2 Innocent Bystanders
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The group "Rhythmic Circus" had just finished rehearsal late Monday night at a south Minneapolis dance studio. Six friends were standing outside the studio on the sidewalk when tragedy came out of nowhere.
Patrick Nelson was among the group of friends who watched in disbelief as a driver sped around and missed the corner at 43rd Street South and Minnehaha Avenue.
On Wednesday, that driver, 47-year-old Lisa Renee Spriggs, was charged with robbery, fleeing police and two counts of criminal vehicular operation.
"We could see Brenda's legs under the car in between the tires. She'd been run over and that for me, we all panicked. Dan and I tried getting her (the driver's) attention to have the woman stop," Nelson said.
Even with one victim trapped under her car, Spriggs showed no compassion. She put the car in reverse to back away from the parked vehicle she'd slammed up against. One of her victims had been thrown clear of the scene, but the other young woman was pinned underneath the car.
"She had one pinned and in the effort to flee she backed over that person again. It's just a very, very serious incident," Minneapolis Police Spokesperson John Elder said.
Spriggs was trying to get away after trying to rob a man who had stopped to withdraw cash from an ATM at 49th Street and 34th Avenue South. When the man pushed her away, Spriggs growled at him before speeding off in her car. The man called police and then followed Spriggs north along 34th Avenue.
Minutes later, Nelson and his friends were enjoying the end of a nice evening of practice. They were unaware of the crime and attempted getaway that would come dangerously close to ending two young lives.
"We all assumed that Brenda was severely even mortally injured, so we were horrified," Nelson said.
Fortunately, the women's injuries are not life threatening – one suffering a concussion and contusions, while the other remains hospitalized with a broken rib.
When Spriggs was finally apprehended by officers a few blocks away, she admitted to being under the influence of crack cocaine.
If convicted on all charges, Spriggs faces nearly 20 years in prison and more than $40,000 in fines.
