FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., Sept. 20, 2019—A shoplifting suspect made a bicycle getaway last night and was later spotted riding topless down the center of U.S. 98 on Okaloosa Island.

Courtney Elizabeth Backes

Louisiana native Courtney Elizabeth Backes, 32, allegedly stole a T-shirt and flip-flops from Surfside Outfitters on Miracle Strip Parkway and left on a bike around 7 p.m.

She walked out of the store with the flip-flops on and the T-shirt stuffed in a bag, according to the police report.

A short time later, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office received several calls about a women riding and weaving down the middle of U.S. 98 on her bike.

At some point, she removed her top.

When a responding deputy pulled behind and alongside her and told her to stop numerous times, Backes replied, “Make me.”

He then got ahead of her and stopped the woman as she tried to pedal past.

Deputies recovered the stolen items totaling almost $45 and charged Backes with retail theft and resisting arrest without violence.

Backes has no known local address.

OCSO news release