Woman arrested for hitting gas station attendant with car Save Email Print
South Bend, IN
Posted: 12:27 PM Jul 16, 2008
 Last Updated: 3:40 PM Jul 16, 2008
127 comments
A | A | A

Police believe they have arrested the woman who ran over a South Bend gas station attendant last month.

Police say an anonymous call identified the woman in the security video as 29-year-old Shonta Bailey.

She is now in the county jail, and faces felony charges of aggravated battery, theft, and reckless driving after allegedly running over an attendant at the Town and Country BP in June.

She drove off without paying for her gas after the two had an argument inside the store.

Police say Bailey was picked up at the county courthouse this week. She was there facing other felony charges.
Related Stories
Gas station attendant struck by gas thief

 More Stories
Longtime Walkerton grocery store closing, economy to blame

Last day to register, first day to vote

Organizations hope to help more Hoosiers pay winter heating costs

South Bend fights bond battle

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Commonsense on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Hey Heather, glad I could make you smile. Most news makes me sad.
Posted by: Slade Location: Mishawaka on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:14 PM
To answer your comments on racism remarks about this girl being black and if she was white there would be less comments. You compare her to white women killing their babies get less punishment then black women. Well I a white person and I cannot agree with you more. Take for instance the woman on trial in Laporte. NOT GUILTY, had she been a nappy headed HO, she would have been found Guilty, but being a pretty white woman she was found Not guilty. Was you surprised?? Not Me.
Posted by: Heather on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:20 AM
To Commonsense: Thanks for making me smile today. Some of these comments are ridiculous and your comment really made me laugh.
Posted by: teddy on Jul 23, 2008 at 11:05 PM
To get a CLUE: Well said.
Posted by: Read and saw Location: with a life on Jul 23, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Hmmmm God's chosen people are just the jews, maybe he's a racist too. It's not hypocritical to draw conclusions about whatever group of people conform to a stereotype, while not seeing the same thing in your own demographic. Its human nature not to admit one's own fault. When we learn compassion and induvidual responsability we will have no need to recognize race or use government programs when the "church" does its job. oh well we can continue trying to bring others on board, until then. Let's try to do what we can to help, instead of posting messages slamming entire groups of people, go downtown and volunteer at an adult education center or job training center or something productive. PLEASE
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:41 PM
I'm no saint, but the Bible does tell us if we have an issue to bring it our brother first. So, call me a racist. The truth is the truth. Racial groups need to find away to control their own. There is a thing called conforming--and this lady didn't conform so wjhy should I pay for her to be reformed? The first time didn't fix her.
Posted by: BRY Location: PLYMOUTH on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:11 PM
To Get A Clue: Have you ever heard of reverse racism? And as far as hippocracy goes look a Rev. Jesse Jackson, quick to condem all of the caucasion race for any slip up, but look at him now. Is this not the same example of casting stones whyll living in sin? It is not the fault of South Bend residents that they live in this city. It is however the fault of certain ethnic groups for being a disease to humanity! Look around, high crime rates, aids and poverty follows the African american race. Created seperate NOT equal. Science proves some of the indifferences within your race. I'm sure as always its someone else's fault that some blacks live in poverty and that most ghetto's are primarily black. My solution to you Get a Clue and a Life is this: Get a job - Pay your support- and pick up a text book and become something other than a leach on society!!!
Posted by: Get a CLUE Location: AND a LIFE on Jul 23, 2008 at 04:02 PM
I think it is SO strange that so many people are commenting about race here but just a few seconds ago I was this same website page about a white woman who killed her baby daughter and put her in a bag and left her to die and NOT ONE mention of race. Maybe you white people need to pull yourselves together and quit killing your babies, cause you know if ONE did it, you all had to do it. Now how do YOU like it? Shame on you racist hypocrites, SHAME on you. Half of you say you are Christians or claim to be, but GOD condemns racism, and yet you sit up on your high horses and sit in the judgment seat of Christ acting all high and mighty. SHAME. Ask yourself WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? He who is without sin should cast the first stone, so you all must be saints. YEAH RIGHT!
Posted by: HonestOne on Jul 23, 2008 at 03:59 PM
WE have a woman on trail for killing her baby. YOu dont hear the horrible comments about her, due to the fact she is white. (no lynching, cockroach, under the jail, NONE Of that... This story has been on here forever..and this girls..(who happens to be black) has been called, every name in the book. If she was white, the comments would be censored like they are when its a white person.
Posted by: Weiner on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Hey, looks like South Bend could use a lot of cummunity service soon to keep the parks and pools open! Make these welfare lazies work for a change!
Posted by: sik Location: river park on Jul 22, 2008 at 03:27 PM
racism well never die thanks to just about all colors and all races but if you notice theres been a lot of robberies and probably cuz they cant get a job to feed their families im not saying that is justifiable but lets face it south bend has no jobs and people are stuck here so its either welfare or crimes to feed their family i just moved bac k here from illinois and its bad when in one week i found a job in a city 1/100th the size of south bend and been here three weeks and have had no oppertunities thats why the crime rate is so high cuz either a no jobs or b noone hires inexperienced people and theyre too lazy or greedy to train people so what kind of option do you have than? but seriously they should lock this girl up if they can give someone 6 years for back child support she should be getting major time behind bars
Posted by: Willie Location: Niles on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Good comments about welfare. As long as you pay people not to work, they will choose not to. There is plenty of litter in the streets that needs picked up; give 'em all rakes and shovels and garbage bags. Quit promoting laziness.
Posted by: Shelby on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:36 AM
Kinema - I agree somewhat with your post however, how are these kids going to deal with the work force as adults if they have never had to measure their performance against others doing the same job? This is how humans operate and kids need to be prepared for this as adults. I also do not agree that schools do not promote critical thinking. Some underfunded and over populated schools certainly cannot but there are many schools that do. Both public and private. I have known some home schooled kids and was not impressed with thier CT skills. But they are only as good as their parent/teacher. I too am tired of the race card. At what point can this be put behind us and we can move on as a specie? Times could get tough and those who are dependent on government handouts are going to get cut off. What the government gives you can just as easily be taken away. Then what will they do? We saw what they will do during the aftermath of Katrina. I was ashamed at what I saw.
Posted by: To Weiner on Jul 21, 2008 at 07:30 PM
I totally agree with everything you wrote. Wisconsin did a great job with welfare reform a few years back. They made people search for jobs, this search was monitored closely, and six weeks after benefits were collected by the recepient, if he or she did not have full time employment by then, he or she had to perform a certain number of hours of community service per week until full time employment was acheived. I think that this is something all states should adopt as more and more people are laying around or causing trouble while getting a free check every month.
Posted by: Commonsense on Jul 21, 2008 at 03:24 PM
I think someone should hire her to run over the geese. This would give her a job doing what she can handle and it would take care of the geese problem in South Bend, Mishatucky, and all mighty Granger. Give her a Caddy!
Posted by: Cream Location: Dude on Jul 21, 2008 at 01:33 PM
That was pretty stupid for the gas attendant to go running after a criminal. She's lucky that she didn't get shot.
Posted by: Opie on Jul 21, 2008 at 12:42 PM
This is so old news. Change it already.
Posted by: Weiner on Jul 20, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I, for one, am so tired of people of a certain race thinking that they are owed a living, and the rules don't apply to them because of their skin color. They are rude, will jump in front of you in lines at grocery stores and gas stations, are very loud and obnoxiuos, look at you like "Don't you DARE say anything, or I'll pull the race card and call you racist!" and think the white man owes them a living. Get an education, get a job, stop living off of welfare, and be productive member of society. I think people have had enough of the "poor me" act. Stop having a bunch of kids so you can get more food stamps and welfare, and have to ride around the Wal-Mart in a little cart, because you weigh 400lbs, because you are to lazy to even walk! The govt should have a cut-off for welfare just like unemployment. How long can you live on welfare? All your life? I don't know because I've always had to WORK for everything I have.
Posted by: Islander Location: South Bend on Jul 19, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Kinema: Thank you for the link. Very informative.
Posted by: Kinema on Jul 19, 2008 at 07:45 PM
Islander: We can talk about biology... but I'd prefer to talk about how we all had to grow up, because it's easier to solve that problem than it is to fix our genes (and no one wants to talk about genes - it hurts feelings). We all grew up in an institution where we learned what to think, not how to think. And, in that institution, socialization was mean spirited; consisting of learning to seek out and have contempt for weakness in others, conditional self esteem (grades; comparing self to others), not moving or thinking without first checking to see what everyone else is doing or thinking (not having a mind of your own, not thinking critically). It's tragically comic. We unlearn critical thinking in school and then have to take a special course in critical thinking in college. But, we do have freedom in America and many parts of Europe (not Germany). Look at this: http://www.doe.in.gov/sservices/homeschool.html Scroll down to Home School Enrollment Total By Year. Things change.
Posted by: Truthful on Jul 19, 2008 at 08:42 AM
It is about race. People of certain racial groups get angry because other racial groups point out their bad socially unacceptable behavior. These groups of people should step up and work as a group to solve the problems they face. Only they can change societies perception of their group. It is human nature to label, if you don't like the label change your ways. When in Rome do as the Romans do. This means pull up your pants, get a legitimate job, go to school, quit reproducing like rabbits, and remove the shower cap from your head so your brain cells can breathe.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 19, 2008 at 08:27 AM
So is she still incarcerated or did one of her crack dealer friends bail her out?
Posted by: Tom Location: Leesburg on Jul 18, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Willie from Niles, You said it perfectly, I've been trying to make this point to people for some time. We have generations raised by generations of people who have absolutely no concept of morality. It's really frightening to think what crimes these people are capable of.
Posted by: Kathy Location: SB on Jul 18, 2008 at 05:24 PM
I don't agree that it is about race. Granted, people from all different backgrounds can have all different types of challenges. I truly believe how a person lives their life is based more on how they have been raised. If a person is raised with drugs and crime, I truly believe a person lives what they know! But, I will also say that this economy is playing hell on people and their emotions. I work in the CS field, and have had seen more people "going off" for no really good reason lately, white, black, hispanic, doesn't matter. People have short fuses. Not too mention that I saw a woman at a McDonalds drive-thru go off while trying to place her order. Whip out of line, almost hit the car in front of her, do a burn out and fly through the parking lot to park. Then jumped out of her car and run inside. When I got to the window to pick up my order, I could hear yelling. And she was middle aged, white!! I think people are just crazy anymore!! Scary!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:14 PM
to Anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 01:21 PM Umm your the dummy were talking about a serious issue and all you can do is spell check. Heres a idea post something worth our time to read.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:10 PM
lol tyler well put.
Posted by: Israel Location: Goshen on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Ok, ok now why bring up hispanics? is it because you cant take the heat your race brings upon you, so you want to blame other races too...Oh and can someone answer why amercians say 'colored' people. There once was a man that said 'when you (caucasians) are born your pink, when you grow up you're yellow, when you get sick you're green, when you're cold you're blue, when you tan you're red, and when you get old you turn white." So please tell me now, who are the real colored people? Im Mexican by the way so you dont come at me with racist black comments. Oh and this lady got what she deserved if she was white, brown, black, green i dont care she still had to face the law. Thank you...
Posted by: Islander Location: South Bend on Jul 18, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Maybe someone can help me out on this. Growing up in a middle class family, I would always aspire to have better than what I had growing up. Isn't that a goal anyone has? It seems agreed upon here that behavior is learned. If someone is of lower income why do they (not ALL!! Don't get me wrong) seem to be content living in deplorable conditions in government/section 8 housing with no aspirations to better themselves. Public education is free. If you hate your standard of living wouldn't you study, learn and get educated to raise the standard? Instead of 3 or 4 kids by different people, no car, job, or education how does someone opt for sub-standard quality of life? I know it's not really what this article is about but it is where the tide of the posts have drifted too. Does anyone have a meaningful opinion or answer? I'm not trying to stir the pot by any means but just looking for answers to the above questions I have.
Posted by: Willie Location: Niles on Jul 18, 2008 at 09:12 AM
[They're treating average as a specific point; the 50th percentile. You also are correct.] Boy, not enough time today or space here to go in depth, but here's the main cause: Parents who procreate and then basically leave the kids to learn about life and grow up by themselves. Look at the statistics for single parent households (usually the mother raising the kids) and the correlation to crime and poverty. No one is teaching these kids right from wrong, and then they breed another generation even more morally bankrupt than the last. I actually worked with a guy who taught his 4-year-old daughter to give the finger. Makes me weep for the kids who will never have a chance in life...
Posted by: Anonymous Location: South Bend on Jul 18, 2008 at 04:20 AM
Race will always be an issue as long as we make it the issue. I was born and raised on the West side of South Bend and if you notice there is no major shopping centers, etc. on this side of town anymore, WHY? It's because businesses like Target, Kmart and other stores had to close because they were constantly being robbed and couldn't keep up with the losses! We have nothing nice on this side of town because of the criminal activity that keeps businesses from wanting to locate here. This will continue as long as we as a society allow it to and will only stop when we finally say "enough is enough" and put an end to it by turning these crooks in! I commend whoever turned this girl in! Instead of focusing on race, we should focus on the real problem which is crime in our city!
Posted by: frog Location: Plymouth on Jul 18, 2008 at 03:45 AM
The whole deal is just lousy. The economy is going down the toilet, prices on everything from fuel to milk are going up, factory after factory are closing and there are bad people who make bad choices. There are also good people who make bad choices. Always has been. There is too much worrying about the criminal rights, (thank you ACLU), too much "one has to be politically correct", no profiling under any circumstances, and the system that encourages having children, to get more money. I guess what I am trying to say is that it seems to me that fraud, misuse of the system, taking what doesn't belong to you and disrespecting the way of life that our ancestors tried so hard to give us, has just been encouraged. I don't know if any of that makes any sense to anyone other than myself, but it just seems to me the bahavior this woman displayed is the norm now a days. Personally, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 17, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Shame on this person.
Posted by: Dr. Crane on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Willie: You don't think most people are close to the average IQ? What I got from the other post is that 49 of a hundred people you meet are below average. Isn't it more like 32%? Maybe you're talking about standard deviation... but I don't know why. You said that color doesn't matter, and I agree, but there's another question that needs addressing. Why are only certain communities mired in strife? And I don't mean unemployment, etc.; I mean why do you find more people who are troubled there than anywhere else? There is no excuse for bad behavior. So it's senseless and a distraction to bring up the environment. People don't hurt other people because they're poor or rich or whatever. It's just who they are. And there is plenty of it to be found everywhere, to be sure, but more is found in some places than others. It's not racist to ask, why, is it? I'm listening. ;)
Posted by: To Paul on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Paul, I agree with you 100%. Where has the pride gone? I would feel like less of a person knowing that I am sitting around collecting government checks. Our Ancestors fought so hard to allow me the right, as a woman, to be able to attend college. How could I let their struggles go to waste? Likewise, Black Americans fought so hard for equality and the right to attend college as well. I wonder if they would have fought so hard if they could see that their hard work is being wasted on lives of guns, gangs, violence, and crime.
Posted by: thinker on Jul 17, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Inteesting IQ stuff. Dr. James Watson actually stated that blacks score 10 points lower on IQ tests. Obviously they have a disadvantage. Knowing this, why should we expect them to act and behave based on standards they can't measure up to? Now, with this being said, how can we accept affirmative action?
Posted by: Willie Location: Niles on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Dr. Crane, the bell curve only works for a normal distribution. And before you criticize Glenn and Chaz, they are, in intent, still correct. Every bell curve still has a mean, and roughly half of the area under the curve will still fall to the left of it. I understood what they meant. But thanks for the rudimentary statistics lesson; we should get together sometime and talk histograms and XmR charts and stuff.
Posted by: B Location: South Bend on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Thanks Dr. Crane. I can sleep better now with that info.
Posted by: Paul on Jul 17, 2008 at 02:31 PM
There's no excuse for Ms. Bailey's actions. NO EXCUSE!!! Don't blame the economy, don't blame race. My grand-parents came across the ocean from Hungary, to Ellis Island, with nothing but the shirt on their back and good moral standards. They worked hard to survive and did it legally! This society is so SPOILED with the freedom in this country. We ALL have a wealth of free information to educate ourselves, to make our lives better, and our children's lives. Let's turn off the television sets, get off our duffs, and start doing something positive for each other. (WITHOUT BREAKING THE LAW, WITHOUT HARMING OTHERS!)
Posted by: Dr. Crane on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Professor Glen: Half are not below average. The bell curve indicates what is normal. So, if you graph the eating habits of Americans, most eat breakfast, lunch and supper, a few eat one big meal, and a few eat almost nothing. The graph of this is bell shaped. The top of the curve represents MOST people. This means that, for IQ, about 60 out of a hundred people you meet have an IQ between 95 and 110. The graph drops down on the right side because over 130 is rare, 2 out of a hundred, and on the left are the rare learning disabled (down syndrome, etc.). If the curve is wider, more like a low hill, then even more of the population is in the average range. For different population groups (oh, alright, races), the curve is a slightly different shape. The smart for all groups are equally smart, and the below average are equally below average, but the number of each in different groups is different. One group isn't BETTER at math, they just have more members who are good at it.
Posted by: Tamra Location: Elkhart on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Hey everybody, why don't we get her to stand in a photo shoot with Obama???!!
Posted by: Nick on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:01 PM
There are plenty of jobs in South Bend, our unemployment is LOWER than the national average. This includes Dallas. If you get a felony. It si your own dumb fault. Because you were young, etc... That is not an excuse, you should have know better. Crime thus far major crime has stayed on the west side of South Bend. She should get assuault and battery charages, leaving the scene of an accident, etc... Throw the book at her and make an example.
Posted by: Svengali Location: Elkhart on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:41 PM
No matter how bad the economy it doesn't excuse crime. Many times I have been broke. NEVER would I rob or steal because of it. Its called morals. The liberals succeeded in getting God removed from schools and this is the result.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:38 PM
I blame alot these problems we have in our cities on this Hip Hop music Crap these kids listen to. Have you ever heard the lyrics to some of these songs,and then you see how these kids act,It just amazes me. Is it really cool to stoop to that level?
Posted by: Don on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Whoops I mispelled "KINDERGARTEN",Big deal you obviously knew what I meant. Race will always be an issue here,because everytime blacks can't get there way,they bring up the color of there skin to get there way. White people can't do this, so why should I foget about racism?
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Blacks make up most of the population in state prisions,PERIOD!!!! If you don't believe it goto www.hrw.org/backgrounder/usa/incarceration
Posted by: South Bend Resident Location: South Bend on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Because of the bad economy right now it is hard for people to find jobs. Luckily I'm at a good stable company, but I too had to do the job hunting and I was out every day and it took 6 months for me to find a job. During that time off work, I did not get any help from the government either. I did things like go to the plasma center, collect cans, deliver phone books, ect to make some money. Also it is very hard for people with past felony records and young people to get a job. My husband has a felony from when he was young and hasn't been in any trouble for the last 10 years, but most places will not hire you because of that. The main problem with all this increase in crime is because of everything up in prices and no jobs. How do they expect some people to make it only on 5.15 an hour. Michigan just raised their minimum wage to 7.40. Indiana needs to do the same.
Posted by: Former Hoosier Location: Dallas Texas on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:54 AM
This is a shame!I am black and agree that Ms. Bailey should be punished.We as black women need to act more responsibly.Yes, the issue of race is brought up when whites commit crimes too. I continue to the read comment, "Get a Job". My question for you locals today is, Where are the jobs in South Bend? There are none jobs in the area. If there are please post them in the comments next time instead the negative nastiness that gets all of us no place. I can bet your bottom dollar that if there was a job fair today, blacks would go. Just how many will get a job,not many. Indiana unemployment rate is disgraceful.Severly! And you guys wonder why crime is high.Reach out to these young people.There is something wrong in South Bend but I bet your mayor (Lueke)doesn't think there is. Sad to say but crime may be at your door step soon with the way the job market is in your area.How about employment for the felons who want to work. You negative guys all probably think they shouldn't work at all too
Posted by: Steve-O on Jul 17, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Abe Lincolns fault---
Posted by: Willie Location: Niles on Jul 17, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Firstly, trash is trash no matter what color. Secondly, I'm with Mr. Lawyer: It is no coincidence that Lake and St. Joe counties are distinct from the rest of the state regarding high crime and high taxes. They are run by corrupt political machines, and nothing will change until the voters decide they've had enough. Thirdly, I would be interested to see this Judge Chamblee's sentencing record. He sounds pretty soft.