Louisiana woman helps police chase shoplifter suspect in her own car

A Louisiana mom of three was honored Tuesday for lending a hand to police — or on this case, her automobile — to help an officer in pursuit of a suspected shoplifter over the weekend.

The chase started Saturday at a Dillards retailer in Slidell when Sgt. Jeff Kahrs was alerted to a shoplifting incident in progress, Slidell police stated.

The suspect, later recognized as 34-year-old Kelsey Baird, of Navarre, Florida, noticed Kahrs enter the shop and throw away the objects she allegedly tried to steal, police stated.

When Kahrs tried to forestall Baird from leaving the shop, she bumped into the parking zone and jumped right into a automobile ready outdoors, police stated, including that the automobile was pushed by Baird’s boyfriend, 43-year-old Eric Boudreaux, of Biloxi, Mississippi.

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A suspected shoplifter, later recognized as 34-year-old Kelsey Baird, tries to run from Sgt. Jeff Kahrs at a Dillards retailer in Slidell on Saturday, November 1, 2025. (Slidell Police Division)

Police bodycam video reveals Kahrs chasing Baird till she jumps into the ready automobile and pulls into the parking zone. Simply then, a pleasant stranger stops and asks Kahrs if he wants a experience.

“Do you wish to get in?” says the Good Samaritan.

A superb Samaritan stopped within the parking zone to fulfill Sgt. Jeff Kahrs throughout the pursuit of shoplifting suspects on Saturday, November 1, 2025. (Slidell Police Division)

Kahrs accepted the help and acquired into the automobile and helped the girl navigate in pursuit of the suspects.

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“The civilian-officer duo safely adopted the suspects, whereas Sergeant Kahrs carried out a play for the responding officers through his police radio,” police stated in a press release.

Moments later, backup arrived to assist take the suspects into custody.

Eric Boudreaux, 43, was charged with theft and resisting an officer whereas fleeing. (Slidell Police Division)

Each Baird and Boudreaux had been charged with theft and resisting an officer whereas fleeing. Baird was moreover charged with meth possession.

Kelsey Baird, 34, was charged with theft, resisting an officer whereas fleeing and meth possession. (Slidell Police Division)

Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau thanked the great Samaritan for serving to his officer.

“To the Good Samaritan I spoke with this morning, individuals like you’re the motive Slidell is a good place to reside and work,” the chief stated. “With out hesitation, you assisted one in every of our officers… with out anticipating something in return.”

On Tuesday, police recognized the Good Samaritan as Slidell resident Lesli Smith and offered her with the Citizenship Award throughout a ceremony with police and Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal.

Police recognized Leslie Smith because the Good Samaritan who killed Sgt. Jeff Kahrs arrests the shoplifting suspects. Smith acquired Slidell’s Citizenship Award on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. (Slidell Police Division)

“All I used to be pondering at that second was, ‘How can I assist?’” the mom of three stated.

Smith added that she has lived in Slidell all her life and needed to emphasise how impressed she was with the arduous work of police and the response to the alleged shoplifting.

“I used to be so impressed, that was the primary factor I needed to come across,” Smith informed reporters on the ceremony. She added that after dropping Kahrs off to arrest the suspects, she made a U-turn and went again purchasing at TJ Maxx.

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Seuzeneau warned in an earlier assertion that would-be thieves ought to assume twice earlier than concentrating on companies in Slidell.

“We are going to do no matter it takes to catch you and prosecute you to the fullest. Keep out of our metropolis,” he stated.