Police arrest man they say stole car with toddler inside

Published 10:01 am Friday, April 17, 2015

Salisbury Police have arrested a man accused of stealing two vehicles, including one with a three-year old child inside.

Derrick Dashawn Brown, 20, of 430 Grim St., was arrested just after 1:30 a.m. on Friday on two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle and one count of first-degree kidnapping. His bond was initially set at $500,000.

Brown was located after police received an anonymous tip.

Two of Brown’s charges stem from an incident that occurred Wednesday at Pop Shoppe, 1831 W. Innes St. Brown allegedly stole an unlocked 2008 Ford Escape with a toddler sitting in the rear seat. The driver of the vehicle told police he was inside the store and came out in time to see the vehicle heading east toward downtown Salisbury.

Police found the child inside the vehicle about 20 minutes later on Tabernacle Street.

Brown was not inside the vehicle when police found it.

Police say Brown also stole a 1997 Cadillac Deville from a residence at 1123 S. Main St. the same morning, around 12:07 a.m. The owner of the vehicle was inside his house when the Cadillac was stolen.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.