ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A reported theft led to a high-speed chase that ended in Wheeling Sunday.

Chief Deputy James Zusack with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office said the incident began about 3 p.m. when deputies responded to a reported theft.

“Some female may have taken a purse out of a buggy at Rural King. Our deputies responded to the mall, spotted the vehicle, ran the plate, the car came back stolen,” he said. “There’s three occupants in the car.”

He said the car was in the Michaels Arts and Crafts parking lot when deputies found it.

“We made contact with the driver … advised her that the vehicle she was in was reported stolen and then she took off,” Zusack said. “She took off through the mall, got onto I-70 eastbound, and we at a high rate of speed pursued, with speeds over 100 miles per hour. The pursuit entered into West Virginia on I-470 toward Bethlehem.

“The vehicle crashed out and hit the (concrete) median. Our guys blocked the vehicle in and stopped it. … When one of the deputies pulled in front of the vehicle and the female driver decided she would ram the back end of our patrol unit.

“None of our deputies got injured. Bridgeport police assisted us, along with Wheeling police,” Zusack said, adding the pursuit took about 10 minutes.

Cassandra Hirosky, 34, of Wheeling and Joshua Carney, 29, of Wheeling were taken into custody. Zusack said the third person present, John Barry, 47, no address available, was released from the scene.

Zusack said charges will be determined.

“Wheeling has them at this point,” he said, adding Carney had a warrant for his arrest.

The Wheeling Police Department and Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office were contacted but had no comment on possible charges or court dates. According to Belmont County Eastern Division Court, Hirosky and Carney have not been scheduled for an appearance.