The Navajo County Attorney’s Office is presently reviewing a string of new shoplifting charges against White Mountain Apache Police Detective Sgt. Melissa Ward, a law enforcer now entangled in accusations of breaching the very law she vowed to protect. As reported by FOX 10, what started as a single citation has morphed into an investigation spanning seven incidents over three months, raising the specter of multiple felony charges and potentially derailing a career in law enforcement.
Evidence including surveillance footage and photos, which were obtained by FOX 10 from the Show Low Police Department, appear to showcase an alleged pattern of theft by Ward. Body camera footage reveals an exchange between a bewildered officer and the accused as she sits in a patrol car, with the officer inquiring, "Hey Melissa, what were you thinking? I mean, I don't understand, why would you put your career on the line for something foolish like this? It's not, it's not worth it."
The events in question unfolded at a Walmart in Show Low, where she was ostensibly stopped for shoplifting. According to the police report, Ward was stopped after attempting to leave the store with only a tote paid for, while items such as cleaning supplies, leather journal, and a dog toy lay concealed within. As a store employee described to police, "Every single item she got, she opened the tote, put it in, and closed it every single time. And then when she got to the front end, the only thing she purchased was the tote." This information was recapped also in a Yahoo News article.
When confronted, Ward offered varying explanations, initially claiming she was there to buy candy for a departmental Halloween event. "Then she claims she only came here to buy candy for the PD, for the trunk or treat. None of this is candy," clarified a store employee in an account given to Show Low Police, as reported by Yahoo News. Loss prevention officers have connected Ward to six additional incidents involving suspected shoplifting of items ranging from personal care products to dog food, with the alleged thefts totaling up to $1,200 in goods and cash. Investigators are also looking into whether Ward executed fraudulent returns using old receipts to return items for cash.
As the investigation deepens, the future of Ward's policing career teeters precariously, evident in her response to persistent questioning about her visits to the store: "I wouldn't say bad decisions, but..." – as reported by both FOX 10 and Yahoo News. Her silence in response to media inquiries, compounded with the open case at the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, signifies a pivotal moment in not only her career but also the community she once swore to serve.
