A suspected theft of approximately 175 credit cards valued at more than $15,000 and other Walmart merchandise has landed two persons in trouble with the law.
43 year old Lorie Maclean and 53 year old Craig Yarbrough both of McDonald, Tennessee are each charged with theft over $10,000. Maclean is also charged with theft of merchandise. Both are to appear in court on May 1. Maclean is under a $26,500 bond. Yarbrough’s bond is $25,000.
The two were arrested by Smithville Police during a theft investigation on Thursday, April 24 at Wal-mart.
Chief Randy Caplinger and Corporal Travis Bryant told WJLE that Smithville Police were called to Walmart after a woman (Maclean) tried to leave the store with stolen merchandise. “She (Maclean) was caught trying to push items out of Walmart in a shopping cart. But when a loss prevention officer of the store tried to stop her, she abandoned the cart, ran to her pickup truck and drove away. She also left behind her boyfriend, Yarbrough, who was still inside the store,” said Corporal Bryant.
After police were notified, Chief Caplinger, Corporal Bryant, and Lieutenant Matt Holmes responded and pulled over Maclean’s truck at the intersection of Broad Street and Anthony Avenue. As Maclean was placed under arrest, officers noticed items inside her truck that aroused their suspicion. They executed a search warrant and found around 175 American Express prepaid credit cards totaling $15,525 that had apparently not been activated along with approximately $2,700 worth of other merchandise. Police suspect many of these items may have been stolen from various Walmart stores in Tennessee and in other states.
The case remains under investigation by Smithville Police as well as state and federal authorities.
20 year old Jessie Herman is charged with burglary and theft of property under $500. He will be in court on May 15. His bond totals $16,500. Chief Caplinger said that on Sunday, April 27 police were dispatched to NHC Healthcare Center concerning two cars that had been burglarized. After the incident, Herman was observed on foot in the area. Police were notified and confronted Herman on White Street. He was allegedly found with items taken from the vehicles and placed under arrest.
29 year old Travis Tramel is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for simple possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax) and simple possession of a schedule IV drug (Valium). His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on May 22.
Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, April 26 police were dispatched to the area of West Main Street for a possible drunk driver. An officer spotted the vehicle on Riley Avenue and pulled it over. The driver, Tramel had a light blue powdery residue in his nose. His speech was slurred and labored. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He had a metal pill container with seventeen and a half light blue pills believed to be Xanax, four light blue pills believed to be Valium and one light yellow pill also believed to be Valium. He did not have a prescription for the drugs.
25 year old Jessica Jenkins is cited for simple possession of a schedule II drug and she will be in court on May 22. Chief Caplinger said while assisting police on a recent traffic stop, another officer made contact with Jenkins who was found to have twenty five white pills in her purse thought to be methadone hydrochloride. The pills belonged to someone else.
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