Three Chicago women face felony charges after allegedly stealing a haul of clothing from a Naperville Nike store, DuPage County officials said. The State’s Attorney’s office, in conjunction with the Naperville Police, detailed the accusations involving Emiaya Shannon, Shawanda Outlaw, and Martasia Barney. The trio allegedly made off with over $300 worth of apparel from the Nike Well Collective on South Main Street before being apprehended with help from a police helicopter.
According to a press release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, Shannon, 27, and Outlaw, 28, entered the store around 4:20 p.m. on April 9 and selected around twenty items. They then fled in a vehicle driven by Barney, 27, who reportedly evaded a traffic stop despite the activation of police lights and sirens. Their flight eventually ended in Chicago after they were located and detained.
“The apprehension of the defendants in this case sends the simple message to would-be thieves that if you come to DuPage County to steal, we will work together and use every tool available to us, including air support, to arrest, charge and prosecute you," said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. He emphasized that retail theft is harmful to business owners, employees, and consumers alike. Berlin also praised the inter-departmental cooperation that led to the swift capture of the suspects.
Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres underlined the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement. “The collaboration involved in this case highlights how dedicated Chicagoland law enforcement agencies are to catching criminals. Even though the crime didn't happen in their community, these agencies are willing to provide people, technology, and other resources to help each other and achieve our common goal of holding people accountable for victimizing our communities,” Arres said. He expressed thankfulness for the support of other police departments and the State’s Attorney’s office in addressing the incident.
The defendants have all been released pre-trial with strict conditions, including a prohibition on entering any Nike store. The case is drawing considerable attention due to the elaborate cross-jurisdictional efforts involved in the arrest. Their next court appearance will be before Judge Mia McPherson on May 5, 2025. Public reminders caution that the charges are accusations at this stage, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
