An Ocala woman is accused of striking the Wal-Mart security employee who stopped her daughter-in-law from stealing from the big-box outlet.
Tabatha Boatwright, 50, was charged with simple battery and Paulina Mitchell, 30, was charged with second-degree petit theft (first offense) after they were arrested last Wednesday at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 4980 E Silver Springs Blvd.
An Ocala Police officer arrived at the store and met up with the security employee, who said that Mitchell was walking with Boatwright to their vehicle. The officer went outside and saw Mitchell running to a vehicle and detained her before she drove away, according to the OPD report.
While walking Mitchell to the security office, the officer saw Boatwright running ahead of them towards the security employee. Upon arrival at the office, the officer observed Boatwright in the employee’s face. The officer then saw Boatwright take her right hand and place it near the employee’s face. The employee said she was struck by Boatwright, the report said.
The employee said Boatwright had been getting in her face and threatening her due to a separate incident, and that Boatwright struck her in the right cheek. The officer did not observe any injuries on the employee, who declined medical assistance. The officer saw hand movement towards the employee’s cheek wasn’t sure there was contact. No security footage of the incident was available, according to the report.
After being read her Miranda rights, Boatwright said she pushed the employee in the neck area because she was in her face. The officer smelled alcohol on Boatwright’s breath, the report said.
The security employee said Mitchell stole $74.91 in items from the store. She said Mitchell went to a self-checkout station and failed to scan 17 items, placed them in a grocery bag and left the store, passing all points of sale. Among the unscanned items were ingredients to make tacos, including 10 pounds of ground beef, according to the report.
Security footage showed Mitchell concealing items while walking through the store, then placing multiple items into the grocery bag without scanning them and leaving without paying for them. After being advised of her Miranda rights, Mitchell admitted to stealing the items, the report said.
Both women were taken to the Marion County Jail. Boatwright was released Thursday on $1,000 bond and Mitchell was released at the same time on $500 bond. No court information was available.