A Masury woman wanted for allegedly stealing more than $8,000 from a Brookfield business was arrested Sept. 1 after she fled from police and crashed her SUV into a sign in Hubbard Township, Brookfield police said.
Brittany E. Banjak, 31, of 1196 Sharon Hogue Road, will be arraigned on charges from both incidents Sept. 3, according to the docket at Trumbull County Eastern District Court.
Police said they spotted Banjak in her SUV at about 5:30 p.m. on Route 62 at Broadway Avenue. Banjak pulled over just short of Bedford Road, then sped away southbound, police said.
Banjak drove faster than 85 mph and weaved in and out of traffic, then turned west on Chestnut Ridge Road, police said. The SUV hit a street sign, disabling it, and Banjak ran, police said. Police said they caught her in the 7200 block of Chestnut Ridge.
While police conducted an inventory of her purse, they found a crack pipe, police said.
Banjak faces charges of fleeing police, possession of a drug abuse instrument, resisting arrest and reckless operation.
On June 29, an employee of Sparkle Market reported to police that Banjak, who was then an employee, had stolen $8,073 over time from her cash register, police said. She faces a charge of felony theft.
UPDATE: Prosecutors filed a motion May 14, 2021, to end prosecution of the case due to Banjak’s death.