Fugitive's Reign of Terror Ends: Woman Wanted in Shooting Case Apprehended After Alleged Pepper-Spray Spree

The long arm of the law has finally caught up with Janelle Marie Bell, a woman who evaded justice for years following her alleged involvement in a 2021 Saginaw shooting. Her apprehension comes after a chilling series of alleged pepper-spray attacks and a brazen carjacking attempt that terrorized residents of Bay County.

Bell, 31, was a fugitive from an October 2021 shooting incident where she was considered an accomplice.

While her co-defendant, Damonta DeQuan Johnson, was tried and sentenced to prison, Bell remained at large, failing to appear for her court dates and slipping through the cracks of the justice system for nearly two years. Authorities had been actively searching for her, and her reemergence in a new crime spree brought a renewed urgency to her capture.

The string of alleged attacks began to unfold on October 10.

According to court records and police reports, Bell’s alleged rampage included targeting vulnerable individuals. On October 12, she is accused of pepper-spraying a pregnant woman inside a beauty supply store in Monitor Township, a shocking act that left the victim distressed and seeking medical attention.

Just two days later, on October 14, an elderly woman was reportedly the victim of a similar assault, also involving pepper spray, at a different location in Monitor Township.

The intensity of Bell's alleged crimes escalated dramatically. On October 16, authorities believe she attempted a carjacking on North Euclid Avenue in Bangor Township.

During this terrifying incident, she is accused of pepper-spraying a store clerk who attempted to intervene, demonstrating a shocking disregard for public safety and the well-being of others.

Michigan State Police, alongside the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Bay City Police Department, and the U.S.

Marshals Service, launched a concentrated effort to track down the suspect responsible for these disturbing incidents. Their diligent work paid off, leading to Bell's apprehension without further incident. The relief felt by the community was palpable as news of her capture spread.

Bell now faces a daunting array of felony charges reflecting the gravity of her alleged actions.

These include fleeing and eluding, assault with a dangerous weapon, carjacking, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, armed robbery, and multiple counts of felonious assault. During her recent appearance in Bay County District Court, bond was swiftly denied, underscoring the serious nature of the charges and the flight risk she presented.

Her past looms large over her current legal battles.

The 2021 Saginaw shooting case, from which she fled, saw her co-defendant sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison for manslaughter and felony firearm charges. Bell's failure to appear not only prolonged her freedom but also allowed her to allegedly commit new crimes, culminating in the recent series of terrifying assaults.

The community now awaits justice, hoping that her long-awaited capture brings an end to a troubling chapter of crime and evasion.