SD woman tries to escape from the police and falls into the greenhouse

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — There was a chaotic scene outside a Lewis Drug Store in Sioux Falls this week after a woman crashed her car into the greenhouse area, causing extensive damage.

But as you’re about to find out, she wasn’t there to buy flowers and the car wasn’t even hers.

“Oh my God, what the hell,” said employee Mark Demaray.

Demaray was working that day and couldn’t believe what he saw.

“A bunch of pallets and all the pots broken on the floor, everything broken into a million pieces,” Demaray said.

According to authorities, 40-year-old Leslie Epling hatched a plan; Buying and selling used cars on Facebook Marketplace.

Police took a report from Brandon on Monday.

“It is reported that she allegedly wrote a check for this vehicle and it was given to the victim. Keys and title were exchanged with this check,” said Capt. Josh Phillips of the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office.

Only that check was never cashed.

“The victim in this case went to cash that check and the check came back closed, it was a closed account, it was a business check and the business had been closed for two years,” Phillips said.

So authorities decided to launch a Facebook operation to catch Epling by selling her a car on Marketplace.

They arranged to meet Lewis in the parking lot.

But when they got there, they used their vehicles to pin Epling down.

“Epling disobeyed officers and attempted to drive through the tent area between trees and pottery,” Phillips said.

The potters haven’t made it yet, but they estimate the damage at three to five thousand dollars.

Epling now faces a long list of charges, including malicious damage to property, grand larceny and aggravated escape.

As for the Lewis employees, they’re glad it’s over.

“Someone could have gotten hurt because it’s an indoor garden center and if someone was shopping back there it could have been a lot worse, but thank God that wasn’t the case,” Demaray said.

According to police, three other people who were in the car were arrested on unrelated charges.