Union City police recover car stolen from Martin; suspect flees after crash

UNION CITY, Tenn. — Police say the person driving a stolen car fled the scene after crashing it in Union City early Wednesday.

Martin police responded around midnight to a reported car theft.

The owner of the white Kia told Martin police he was inside his Fonville Street residence when he heard someone start his car outside. When he went outside, he saw his car pulling out of the driveway.

Around 1:30 a.m., an officer in Union City spotted a car matching the description, according to a report from the Union City Police Department.

As the officer was turning around in his patrol car, he saw the vehicle speed away, according to the report.

The officer turned on his blue lights and started a brief pursuit but ended the chase as the car continued to speed away.

The officer found the car crashed into a street sign at the intersection of Mercer and Division streets, according to police. The driver had fled the scene.

Police also found several personal items from the stolen car in the parking lot of the Union City Public Library and returned them to the owner, according to Martin police.