MATTHEWS, N.C. — Police said a woman is in custody after carjacking another woman Friday outside a busy grocery store in Matthews.
Investigators said Melissa Elaine Stutts, 40, of Charlotte, attacked the other woman at knifepoint and stole her car around 12:45 p.m. outside the Harris Teeter off Independence Boulevard.
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Police said the victim was leaving the store and heading back to her car when she was attacked.
They said Stutts pushed her down and used a knife to cut her purse strap off before taking her black Toyota Rav4.
"She was pushed at one point by her account, and the suspect did have a knife, and she cut her purse strap off, took her purse,” said Tim Aycock, Matthews police.
(Stutts)
“The victim did receive some minor lacerations. She was transported to the hospital for medical treatment,” said Tim Aycock with the Matthews Police Department.
Later in the afternoon, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said officers began following the stolen vehicle.
Police said the Stutts jumped out of the car and ran along McAlway Road in Cotswold. She was taken into custody a short time later.
Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over that scene and could see several officers, items lying in the parking lot and someone in the back of a patrol car.
"We come over here all the time and this is the first time we've had any kind of problem, whatsoever, so you just don't expect it," shopper Justus Daniel said.
Stutts was charged with armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and motor vehicle theft, Matthews police said.
The victim was cut, but the injuries were not life-threatening, police said.
“The victim did receive some minor lacerations. She was transported to the hospital for medical treatment," Aycock said.