The next time you decide to steal a car, look both ways for police before you pull away.
That’s the lesson learned from Tedrick Wilks, 20, 113 Snider St., Grenada.
Wilks was charged with grand larceny and possession of a firearm by a felon Thursday night after allegedly almost hitting a police car while speeding from a Main Street car lot in a car he had just stolen.
Greenwood Police Chief Henry Purnell said Wilks had been looking at a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria earlier in the day at Rustom Auto Sales. A police officer spotted him driving it Thursday night.
“He came off the lot speeding and almost hit a patrol unit,” Purnell said.
The officer pulled Wilks over and noticed the car had no tag.
When the officer asked Wilks if he had any weapons, Wilks confessed to having a Ruger P95 pistol in the car, the chief said.
It was later learned Wilks was a convicted felon from Grenada County during an interview with the officer and the shift supervisor. Wilks was on probation for a gun charge and a felony possession of marijuana charge, Purnell said.
A Rustom Auto Sales employee identified the Crown Vic and said Wilks had been looking at it earlier.
Wilks was being held at the Leflore County Jail this morning awaiting a bond hearing.
• Contact Charlie Smith at csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
