Three Vicksburg teens were in custody, one police officer was treated for wreck injuries and at least four businesses and a man were robbed and burglarized in what police Chief Walter Armstrong called a “crime spree” and extended car chase Monday night and this morning that also involved county deputies and a park ranger at the Vicksburg National Military Park.

“There was no indication that these individuals were going to stop their spree, and we were determined to catch them before somebody got killed or hurt,” Armstrong said this morning. “All of this is a mystery to us. We don’t know what precipitated it.”

Arrested were Rashann Thomas, 19, 2702 Jeanette St., and Justin Ransom and his twin sister, Jessica Ransom, 17, both of 2200 Marshal St., Armstrong said.

Each is charged with three counts of armed robbery, one count of business burglary and one count of attempted business burglary. Thomas also is charged with felony eluding.

The three are accused of using a gun to rob a clerk at Murphy Express, 4103 Pemberton Square Blvd.; Walgreens, 3341 Halls Ferry Road; and an unnamed person inside Walgreens, Armstrong said.

They also are accused of throwing a brick through the front window of the Speedway convenience store, 3600 Washington St., and attempting to break a window at Zips, 887 U.S. 61 North.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said the Ransoms and Thomas also are believed to be responsible for a smash and grab burglary at 1:11 a.m. at Oak Park Bestway, Indiana Avenue and Lee Road.

“We have not officially charged them with it yet,” Pace said. “It’s still unclear what was taken, and the manager will do an inventory this morning.”

Armstrong said the first call came in at 11:20 p.m. with the Speedway burglary, followed up at 12:50 a.m. with the attempted burglary of Zips. “The suspects did not gain entry there,” he said.

At 1:40 a.m., police were called to Murphy’s Express, where the clerk reported two men entered waiving handguns and taking an undetermined amount of cash.

At 2:05 a.m., while investigating the robbery, police were flagged by a passer-by who reported the robbery at Walgreens, Armstrong said.

Police were told that, in addition to robbing clerks there, the husband of one of the employees who said he had dropped by to check on his wife, “was approached by one man who showed a gun and demanded money,” said the chief. Told he had no money, the gunman took the husband’s cell phone, Armstrong said.

The gunmen sped away in a black Chevrolet Impala, which officer Curtis Judge spotted a short time later “doing donuts” at the Halls Ferry Park baseball fields, said the chief.

Officers gave chase, assisted by Warren County deputies and “ultimately assisted by a ranger in the military park,” he added. The chase lasted about 1 and 1/2 hours, he said, and progressed from South Frontage Road, onto and off of Interstate 20, and along Jackson Road.

Thomas and Jessica Ransom jumped out of the car near Elizabeth Circle and Jackson Road, Armstrong said.

Thomas was arrested on foot, at an undisclosed location and time in the military park by ranger Rick Martin.

Jessica Ransom was arrested just before 8 a.m. while walking near Jeanette Street and Bowmar Avenue, Armstsrong said.

Justin Ransom was pursued by multiple police officers and deputies, at one point on Elizabeth Circle in and around homes there, said the chief. He was captured when he crashed the Impala into an embankment in the 1900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, he said.

Two handguns, cash, the snacks and other items were recovered, Armstrong said.

During the chase, officer L’Jamaro Peters crashed his patrol car, police said. Peters was treated and released from River Region Medical Center.

The three were expected to be held in the Warren County Jail without bond until their initial appearance Wednesday in municipal court, Armstrong said.