What began as a shoplifting attempt at the Mulberry Walmart turned into a dramatic chase on Friday, ending with the arrest of a 34-year-old Tampa woman with a history of similar offenses?
According to a report from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), deputies were dispatched to the Walmart store just after 2 p.m. regarding a retail theft. Loss prevention personnel had been monitoring a woman, later identified as April Dukes, as she gathered merchandise and placed it into store bags.
The situation took a peculiar turn when Ms. Dukes was observed removing a pair of earrings from their packaging and placing them directly into her pierced ears. It was at this moment that she reportedly realized she was being watched. In an attempt to evade capture, she abandoned the bags of merchandise and fled the store, but not before taking her newly acquired ear adornments with her.
Deputies arrived on the scene and quickly began searching the area. Their pursuit led them to the nearby Taco Bell, where they located and apprehended Ms. Dukes.
During the investigation, deputies discovered that Ms. Dukes had two outstanding warrants out of Hillsborough County, both for Violation of Probation related to a third conviction for Petit Theft. In addition to being arrested on these warrants, the PCSO charged her with Felony Retail Theft for the stolen earrings and Resisting Arrest for her attempt to flee from deputies.