A Florida woman, Chanel Aisha Anderson, 33, has been arrested after allegedly stealing a pregnant woman’s car while she was at a Kissimmee car wash, then crashing it in a violent and reckless manner. Anderson faces several charges, including grand theft auto, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest without violence.
The incident took place on July 7, when the victim, Hellen Mendez, left her car running at Big Dan’s Car Wash while she was cleaning the mats.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Kissimmee Police Department, Anderson approached Mendez’s car, jumped in, and sped off, driving recklessly through the car wash, nearly running over people.
As Mendez screamed for help, a witness saw Anderson drive off at high speed, causing significant damage to the facility, estimated at $20,000. Mendez, who is 32 weeks pregnant, told local media she felt violated and scared during the whole ordeal, saying, “I had diapers in my vehicle at the time of the accident… shards of glass in the diapers.”
Shortly after, Anderson was found driving the stolen vehicle and crashed into a gas tanker truck and a light pole. When police arrived, she acted aggressively, yelling at officers and even threatening to fight them. After a brief confrontation, officers used a Taser to subdue Anderson.
Mendez, a single mother of two with another on the way, is seeking help through a GoFundMe campaign, describing the emotional and physical toll the incident has had on her.
Anderson is currently being held in the Osceola County Jail on a $5,000 bond and has been ordered to have no contact with the victim.
