By Jason Cannon
Thursday, March 9, 2006 8:24 PM CST
If you've ever seen a commercial for OnStar and didn't believe the tracking software was capable of doing what it claims, you've got no reason to doubt it now.
Shaleta Shavone Humphrie, 26, of Montgomery was arrested yesterday morning near the 205-mile marker on Interstate 65 after an OnStar operator called the Chilton County 911 office and told them she was barreling through the county in a stolen vehicle.
Humphrie allegedly stole the 2004 Yukon XL from a car dealership in Hoover. The dealership notified the Hoover Police Department and OnStar went to work.
"Once we found out where she was, Clanton officers and Sheriff's deputies were following behind her and getting in position in front of her," said Sheriff's Investigator Lt. John Shearon.
Once in custody, Shearon said officers recovered several items of drug paraphernalia. She was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and promoting prison contraband and is currently in the Chilton County jail.
"Cars these days are very sophisticated with their methods of theft deterrent," said Chilton County Sheriff Billy Wayne Fulmer.
"That OnStar system could have tracked her wherever she went, and if she would have abandoned the car it would have told law enforcement where it was. That's help, as law enforcement officers, we really appreciate. I'm glad we were able to recover the car without anyone getting hurt."
Witnesses say Humphrie reached speeds in excess of 90 mph before being taken into custody.