NorthPark Center: Hillary Schleier

NorthPark Center: Hillary Schleier

Each year around this time, craziness begins to steadily increase at area malls and shopping venues, but a Sunday afternoon at NorthPark turned exceptionally chaotic.

At NorthPark Center yesterday (Sunday at about 1:30 p.m.) a mall security officer jumped on the hood of a moving vehicle driven by a shoplifting suspect. Then an off-duty police officer fired shots, from his Dallas Police Department-issued weapon, at the fleeing vehicle.

It began when NorthPark’s loss prevention office reported three female shoplifters attempting to escape the mall in their silver Ford Taurus. A mall security guard attempted to block the car at the parking garage exit, but jumped on the hood when they failed to stop.

Next, according to witnesses, a plain clothed, off-duty policeman shot at the vehicle, which got away. No injuries — security personnel or suspects — are reported, but police are still looking for the three alleged thieves, described as three black females ages 20-30.

“The involved officer has been placed on routine administrative leave per policy,” a police spokesperson says. “We will provide additional information as it becomes available and appropriate for release.”