A 51-year-old Arnold woman was arrested for allegedly shoplifting from two stores and possessing a controlled substance. The woman already was wanted on an outstanding warrant for stealing, Arnold Police reported.
At about 10 p.m. Dec. 4, officers spotted a 2002 Saturn in the parking lot outside the Kohl’s store, 2150 Michigan Ave., and the car was linked to numerous stealing offenses in the area. Officers discovered the car’s owner was wanted by the Taney County Sheriff’s Office and then saw the Arnold woman quickly leave Kohl’s and get into the car, the report said.
The officers followed the car as it went across the street to the parking lot in front of Walmart, 2201 Michigan Ave. The woman then reportedly entered Walmart with an empty canvas bag and returned to the car a short time later, appearing to be in a hurry, according to the report.
As the woman pulled out of the parking lot onto Michigan Avenue, she allegedly failed to signal her turn, and officers stopped the car for a traffic violation. They arrested her because of the warrants connected to the car, the report said.
Officers asked the woman if she was stealing from the Arnold stores, and she reportedly said yes, adding that she only had $30 to her name. Officers searched the car and found $682 worth of jewelry and $196 worth of clothing she allegedly stole from Kohl’s, and she allegedly stole $15 worth of shrimp and chicken from Walmart, according to the reported.
When officers searched her purse, they allegedly found tablets that appeared to be Xanax. The woman was taken to the Police Station, where she was booked and held for the Taney County Sheriff’s Office, the report said.
Depending on results of the drug analysis, Arnold Police will seek charges against the woman through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for possession of a controlled substance and stealing, Capt. Rich Shular said.