A woman was arrested for shoplifting after brazenly placing three items in her purse just feet away from a Winder Police officer.
The officer was speaking with the store clerk at the East May Street Kangaroo when Leah Whitney Shepley, 22, of 1328 Jefferson Highway in Winder, entered the store. Shepley nodded as she passed between the clerk and the officer.
After spending approximately 15 minutes looking at the lottery tickets she had brought with her into the store, Shepley asked the clerk if she could cash them. The clerk advised that the computer was down and he was unable to cash the tickets at that time.
Shepley then walked to a display rack and, under the watchful eye of the officer, spent ten minutes looking at novelty pens, cell phone cases and similar items. The officer saw Shepley remove three items from the shelf, walk down a store aisle and stop. After glancing at the store clerk, Shepley placed the items in her purse and attempted to leave the store.
The officer stopped her and asked her what she had in her purse. Shepley, who the officer noted was very nervous and grinding her teeth, apologized after admitting that she had stolen a few items. The items included a cell phone case valued at $5.99, a $2.99 pen and a metal pen with a LED pointer which had a retail value of $4.99.
During a search of Shepley’s purse, the officer also discovered Soma 350 pills, a schedule IV controlled substance, inside a bottle labeled for hydrocodone.
Shepley was arrested for shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance.
Other recent arrests made by Winder Police include:
• Agbor Dexter Akoarrey, 18, 46 Camden Court, Winder, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
• Alexander Ramirez, 43, 120 Second Street, Winder, outstanding warrant.
• Clinton Amiel Ponder, 33, 847 Pine Shadow Lane, Winder, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and possession of drug related object.
• Daniel Carmon-Ramirez, 35, 174 Ernie Way, Statham, driving while unlicensed.
• Donald William Hardie, 22, 1250 Hwy. 60, Hoschton, open container.
• Eric Ray Adams, 19, 170 Georgia Avenue, Winder, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
• Hank Lanier Baker, 44, 120 Second Street, Winder, hold for other agency.
• Jason Daniel Hodges, 27, 257 B Elks Street, Winder, family violence simple assault.
• Jason Harold Bolt, 37, 257 B Elks Street, Winder, family violence battery.
• Jimmy Waiman Rutherford, 32, 127 Ridgecrest Drive, Winder, disorderly conduct.
• Joel Ramires, 23, 387 Mobile Drive, Winder, expired tag, possession of methamphetamine, open container, driving while unlicensed and using a tag to conceal identification.
• Joye Danette Hodges, 46, 257 B Elks Street, Winder, family violence simple battery.
• Linwood Neal Cotton, 34, 225 Graham Street, Winder, driving while license suspended or revoked.
• Olivia Simone Markert, 17, 2126 Aikenton Road, Monticello, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, tail lights required and DUI.
• Ronald Barnes, 52, 590 Kennedy Sells Road, Winder, no insurance.
• Sanduan Geirr Billings, 18, 40 Village Court, Winder, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
• Stacy Wayne Lecroy, 40, 2080 Indian Hills Court, Bethlehem, probation violation.
• Stephen Andre Arnold, 20, 180 Capitol Avenue, Winder, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
• Sun Hong, 41, 2396 Strand Avenue, Lawrenceville, public intoxication.
• Susan Lynn Spencer, 43, 153 Walker Street, Winder, probation violation.
• Tiffany Nicole Morris, 27, 85 Star Street, Bethlehem, family violence aggravated assault.
• Willie Ezekial Patrick, 30, 1351 Fourth Avenue, Auburn, probation violation.