Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Walmart Shoplifters Apprehended Also Face Drug Charges
A pair of individuals apprehended in the wake of a foot chase after allegedly having stolen shopping carts full of merchandise, garnered theft, trespassing, and drug charges last week.
According to reports filed through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department the foot chase ensued after the man and woman exited Walmart on North Locust Avenue without having paid for two carts full of merchandise.
The pair reportedly exited through the main entrance, then began to walk south. When they were approached by a deputy and store security personnel, deputies report that they split, with one fleeing north and the other south.
The deputy gave chase to the male suspect heading south, and he and Lawrenceburg Police officers were able to apprehend the man at a nearby apartment complex. The female suspect was followed by a security officer. He was able to flag down a police unit and she was apprehended at the North Locust Avenue/Mattoxtown Road intersection.
Lesa Jo Nix, age 50, and Joseph Kyle Bradley, age 29, both of 741 Weakley Creek Road, were arrested on theft charges. Since both had previously been banned for life from the Walmart premises, they were both additionally charged with criminal trespassing.
During the arrest deputies report finding that Bradley was in possession of a small tube that contained twenty-six pills of mixed variety. As a result, he was charged with possession of Schedule II narcotics and possession of Schedule IV narcotics.
Reports show that during the booking process Nix, “Took the tube of pills and hid them inside her pants. While going to the bathroom she put the tube in her vagina.” After security footage was reviewed and it was discovered that she had stolen the narcotics deputies confronted her.
They report that she admitted stealing the drugs, and that, “She then produced for the correctional officer the tube.”
Nix was issued additional charges of tampering with evidence and introduction of contraband into a penal facility.
Reports show that the shopping carts with which the pair had fled contained several electronics items, sound equipment, clothing, a bicycle, home security systems, door knob, lighting, heater, sporting goods items, knives, a computer, and some toys. The items had a combined value of $3,157.90.
