Cops: Camden County Woman Arrested in Wildwood, NJ, After Stealing Oil Tanker
A woman from Camden County who allegedly stole an oil tanker truck and was then involved in numerous incidents from one side of South Jersey to the other on Saturday is facing charges after her spree ended in Wildwood.
The Wildwood Police Department says 44-year-old Camille Wescott of Lawnside stole a Taylor Oil truck in Bellmawr at around 12:30 Saturday afternoon. Throughout the day, according to police, "Wescott was involved in several vehicle pursuits with several different law enforcement agencies and Mrs. Wescott was also involved in several motor vehicle accidents in several different jurisdictions."
At about 8:30 Saturday night, cops in Wildwood were called to the 400 west block of Rio Grande Avenue for a report of an erratic driver. Arriving officers found the stolen tanker truck in the parking lot of Wawa on Route 47; the female driver, later identified as Wescott, had parked the truck near some gas pumps.
Police say as they approached,
"...the defendant [Wescott] refused to comply with officer’s commands and refused to exit the vehicle. On several occasions, the defendant pressed on the brake pedal and checked her mirrors as if she was attempting to pull the vehicle out but she was unable to get the tanker truck re-started. The defendant had the driver and passenger side doors locked and still refused to exit the vehicle."
Officials feared Wescott would back the truck into traffic on Route 47, so a forced entry was made into the vehicle and she was arrested without incident.
Wescott was charged with one count of second-degree receiving stolen property, one count of fourth-degree obstruction of justice, and one count of resisting arrest. She was eventually turned over to the Bellmawr Police Department.
The public is reminded that charges are accusations and the accused is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.