Witness speaks out after woman 'fakes' Chandler accident

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CHANDLER, AZ - It was broad daylight when police say a woman backed into a car, not once, but twice inside an East Valley Wal-Mart parking lot.

"She was screaming and throwing french fries she was eating at his car," said Lisa Macfarlane, an eyewitness, who said the women involved started trouble with her first.

Now, police are warning of a scam where pedestrians walk behind vehicles in a parking lot and get 'struck.'

According to Chandler Police, on June 20 at about 3 p.m., an accident between a car and pedestrian was reported from the parking lot of a Chandler business near Pecos and Germann roads.

According to the report, two witnesses saw the pedestrian intentionally stop behind a vehicle that was backing up.

Police said surveillance video shows the woman, now identified as 32-year-old Omekia Latrece Ballard stop in the middle of the aisle where she waited for the vehicle to get close to her.

Then, as the vehicle approached her, she reportedly pushed out her buttocks in order for the vehicle to strike her.

"It looked like they were trying to get run over on purpose," said Macfarlane.

She was then apparently seen carefully lying down after a minute-and-a-half of waiting for fire and police personnel to arrive. She is also seen getting up and making a phone call.

"That's so shady and ridiculous," said Gideon Hod, a Valley driver.

The report indicates that once firefighters arrived she told them she was injured and was taken to a local hospital.

Since she filed an official police report, the accident was investigated which revealed that it was an attempted fraud and false reporting, according to police.

Charges against the woman are pending.

"I just don't understand why people can't do it the old fashioned honest way," said Micki Loughran, another Valley driver.

Police warn drivers to take extra caution in business parking lots where foot and vehicle traffic are heavy. And that if you become a victim of this type of fraud to call police and wait until officers arrive.