KC woman charged after driving with man clinging to car roof

A Kansas City woman who allegedly fled from an auto repair shop with an employee clinging to the roof of her vehicle has been charged in connection with taking the vehicle without paying for repairs.

Monica L. Franklin, 44, faces a felony count of theft of services.

According to Jackson County court documents, Franklin went to the garage at 24th Street and Indiana Avenue on Monday to check on repairs to her 2006 Cadillac Escalade. She asked an employee to move the vehicle outside so she could see it in the light.

The employee later told police that he pulled the vehicle outside, but when he got out, Franklin got in and started to drive away without paying the $3,600 repair bill.

The employee tried to stop her, first by jumping on the running board and then by crawling onto the roof.

Franklin continued driving and pulled onto Interstate 70. Other shop employees caught up with her in another vehicle, and one fired shots at her vehicle.

She then drove to police headquarters downtown, where officers were contacted.

Franklin allegedly told police that she took the vehicle because she disagreed with the amount being charged and was unhappy with the work quality, according to court documents.

The employee who allegedly filed shots also was arrested. He was released from custody Tuesday pending further investigation.

This story was originally published January 7, 2015 at 2:44 PM with the headline "KC woman charged after driving with man clinging to car roof."