A quintet of Flint women was busted earlier this week, accused of swiping goods from multiple stores at the Oak Brook Square shopping center. Flint Township Police rolled up on the scene Tuesday afternoon in response to a call about five females allegedly packing merchandise without paying, as reported by The Detroit News.
As law enforcement officers arrived, the women made a dash for it with unpaid items, trying to shake off the police in a hurried escape through the parking lot. A brief foot chase ensued, leading to the arrest of the group, two of whom tried pulling a fast one by hiding under vehicles, according to Mid-Michigan NOW. Officers had to drag the duo out from their not-so-clever hiding spots.
A search of the suspects' vehicle later unearthed several trash bags teeming with, possibly pillaged goods from other retailers, none of which appeared to be bought and paid for. "Fortunately their unpaid shopping spree ended and the merchandise was returned to the businesses," the Flint Township Police Department said.
Facing the music, the women – named by officials as Aalaija Allen, Nakeisha Ivory, Teary Ivory, Kaniya King, and Manita Person – are each slapped with felony first-degree retail fraud charges. On top of that, Nakeisha Ivory and Manita Person are being charged as habitual offenders, with past misdemeanors under their belts. In an astounding twist, none of them had been arraigned on charges at the time of their capture.
