Shoplifting Charge Leads To Drug Charges
A woman originally charged with shoplifting wound up with drug charges against her. Wal-Mart loss prevention caught 48 year old Ginger Arrowood skip scanning items. Arrowood paid for $52.45 worth of merchandise but then skip scanned another $153 worth of merchandise and then concealed it inside bags. Arrowood admitted to police that she stole the items but stated she would pay for it. Arrowood was taken into custody and transported to the Cocke County Jail, but, a check of her purse changed things. Police located a pink pouch that contained a baggie of 1 gram of suspected Methamphetamine, 2 baggies that contained 1.34 grams of suspected Heroin, and 2 baggies that contained 2.20 grams of suspected Marijuana. Arrowood’s theft charge then morphed into schedule I,II and VI drug possession.
A similar situation occurred with a male & female subject at Wal-Mart Monday night. Loss prevention had spotted 44 year old James Ball sticking an HP printer cartridge down his pants. It was valued at $104. With him was 51 year old Ella Ellison. She stated she did not know he was going to steal the cartridges, but ball stated he was stealing them for her. Video footage showed Ellison was playing lookout while Ball made the theft. Ball was charged with shoplifting but both were charged with criminal conspiracy. Inside Ellison’s purse police found 5 plastic baggies that contained 5 grams of Heroin and 1 baggie that contained 2 grams of Methamphetamine. Also located were several clear plastic baggies, digital scales, and cut straws. Ellison also had $455.00 in cash broken down into small denominations which is also consistent with the sale of narcotics. She now faces drug charges.