A woman who reportedly said she was "newly homeless" was arrested on a felony theft charge early Monday after she was allegedly caught trying to leave Walmart through the fire exit with over $1,100 worth of stolen merchandise.
Falicity Janice Kelley, 24, who lists "city streets" as her address, was taken into custody around 5:45 a.m. at Walmart, 1601 Albert Pike, and charged with theft of property over $1,000, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Kelley, who lists no prior criminal history, remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $2,500 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 5 a.m. Monday, Hot Springs police Officer Anthony Larkin and other officers responded to Walmart regarding a shoplifting in progress.
Larkin found a male standing near the outside fire exit door near the store's garden center and asked him what he was doing. The male reportedly answered he was "just hanging out." A silver Hyundai Sonata was parked near the door.
A witness told officers there was a woman, later identified as Kelley, standing on the other side of the fire door inside. The witness said he saw the woman earlier loading up a cart with over $1,000 worth of merchandise before heading for the fire door.
The witness said he had watched the woman gathering items in the store since 3 a.m. Larkin went inside and made contact with Kelley and confirmed she had a cart full of items. A computer check also revealed the Sonata was registered to her.
He asked Kelley what she was doing and she reportedly stated she was "looking at all the Christmas items in the store" and claimed she planned to pay for all the items in her cart. However, it was soon determined Kelley only had a cellphone in her possession and no money.
The items in the cart included merchandise from the automotive department, several electronic items and several smaller priced items Kelley had shoved into a backpack obtained from the store that was also in the cart. The most expensive item was a 43-inch television valued at $278. The items in her cart totaled $1,114.33.
Kelley was taken into custody and at the jail, after being read her rights, she reportedly stated she was "newly homeless and needed tires for her car because she was living out of her car and her tires were flat." She said she had taken the other items, like the electronics, because she needed the money, but noted she was starting a new job in a couple of days.
The male found standing outside denied he had anything to do with the incident. Kelley reportedly stated the male had "put her up to it and helped her plan it," but due to lack of evidence he was involved he was released. The affidavit notes he was banned from all Walmart stores for life.
• An investigation into several people trespassing in a local woman's shed lead to the arrest of a homeless man on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges early Tuesday.
Terrance Jarrell Holly, 55, who lists "city streets" as his address, was taken into custody shortly before 6 a.m. and charged with possession of a controlled substance, meth, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, each a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of obstructing government operations.
Holly remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of bonds totaling $8,000 and is set to appear today in district court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Officer Jason Greene was patrolling in the area of Darby Alley when he heard several people trespassing inside a storage shed in the 400 block of West Belding Street.
The owner of the property had previously expressed concerns about people trespassing in her shed and had asked police for help. Greene made contact with four people, including Holly, who initially gave a false name.
Holly was asked to empty his pockets and handed Greene a sunglasses case. He was taken into custody on the obstructing charge for giving a false name. During a search of his person, a glass smoking pipe with residue was found in his pants pocket.
Inside the sunglasses case, Greene reportedly found a syringe and two small baggies of what later tested positive for meth, 0.6 gram.
Local on 10/16/2019