One arrested after alleged antique store robbery turns violent

SPRINGVILLE, Utah (ABC4) — A Provo woman was taken into custody on Wednesday, accused of stealing antique trading cards from a store and hitting the employee with her car while fleeing.

Chelsea Lee Kerr, 34, was booked into the Utah County Jail, where she faces first-degree felony aggravated robbery, second-degree felony obstruction of justice and third-degree felony assault.

The victim reportedly told investigators he had a “bad feeling” about Kerr and another suspect when they entered the store. According to court documents, he began watching them as they walked around the store and allegedly watched as she picked up some valuable baseball cards, which he said she held in her hands while she continued to walk through the store.

Kerr and the male suspect, who has not been identified, then reportedly began to leave the store. When the victim could no longer see the baseball cards, he told investigators he attempted to get her attention but was intentionally ignored.

According to the court documents, the two suspects got into a car and the victim followed them toward the back of the car while recording.

“The car then backs up while the victim is recording and reportedly strikes him,” police reported in a booking affidavit. “The victim steps away from the car and as the car begins to move forward again, strikes the victim a second time, causing him to fall on the hood of the car. The victim reported being on the hood as the car drives away and as the car turns out of the parking lot and onto the road.”

The victim reportedly suffered minor injuries from being hit by the car, including cuts and abrasions to his arms.

Officers said they were able to use the recording to track Kerr to her Provo apartment, where she was safely detained. By the time officers found her, they reported she had removed the license plate from her car and had changed her clothes.

While speaking with investigators, Kerr allegedly admitted to stealing the cards and became scared when the victim followed her out of the store and “began banging on her car window.” Police say Kerr also admitted to changing her clothes and throwing away her shirt because she “was nervous” and removing the license plate from her car as she claimed to be getting a new one the next day.

Court records show Kerr has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing.