Two women were arrested after police said they stole hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise, hiding it in a child’s car seat.
On December 7, SPD Officer Joshua Addison was called to Walmart to meet with the asset protection associate.
According to the associate, he had been watching a 31-year-old white female and a 25-year-old black female, who he believed had been shoplifting, stating at one point he could hear them opening packages.
Officer Addison met the associate and the 31-year old white female outside the store. The female was pushing a shopping cart with 2 bags, which she said she paid for.
Addison asked if there was anything in her purse. She threw her purse in the buggy and told the officer to take her to jail according to the SPD report. They went inside the store and the female revealed the inside of her purse containing stolen merchandise.
As that was going on, her friend, the 25-year-old black female exited the store and took off across the parking lot. She was commanded to stop, which she refused.
Officer Addison ran towards her. She told him she had to take her baby to the car. Officer Addison noticed the car seat.
According to Addison, he could see bulges in the car seat that were covered up with a blanket. Addison told her to take the baby and the buggy back in the store.
Addison pulled the blanket down to check on the welfare of the baby to discover there was no baby underneath the blanket. Instead, the car seat was full with hundreds of dollars worth of stolen merchandise.
The 31-year-old white female had in her possession 21 items totaling $150.15. The 25-year-old black female left the store with 101 items totaling $873.06.
Both suspects were taken into custody for shoplifting after being banned from Walmart.
Due to the Arkansas County Detention Center not taking any prisoners, the suspects were released with a court date.
