BY KEITH EPPS

Bad driving and an even worse decision later earned a Fredericksburg teenager a felony charge Thursday, police said.

City police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said the 18-year-old man was in the parking lot outside Manshu Check and Cash at 3335 Fall Hill Ave., about noon when he somehow lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the business.

The Nissan Altima shattered the glass in the doors and damaged the door frame, Bledsoe said. The driver then apparently panicked and drove away.

Police found the car a short time later in a nearby apartment complex. They were knocking on doors when the suspect came out of his girlfriend's apartment with his hands up and was taken into custody without further incident.

Fontae Coles was charged with felony hit-and-run and possession of marijuana. Bledsoe said Coles had marijuana in his underwear when he surrendered to police. He also had a suspended license.

The impact caused several thousand dollars' worth of damage to the store, police said.

Coles had not been in the store Thursday, but the store owner recognized him from previous visits.

The owner also got the license number of the vehicle before the driver fled, Bledsoe said.

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com