Alleged shoplifter arrested on theft and drug charges

A shoplifter who allegedly stole less than $20 worth of food and drinks from a local grocery store Sunday night quickly faced a felony charge after methamphetamine was allegedly found in his possession.

Jennifer Leann Fitzgerald, 36, aka Stell, listing an address on Central Avenue, was arrested shortly before 7:30 p.m. at Cash Savers, 800 Malvern Ave., and charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, punishable by up to six years in prison, and the misdemeanor offenses of possession of drug paraphernalia and theft of property under $1,000, punishable by up to up to one year in prison. She was also the subject of an arrest warrant for failure to appear.

Fitzgerald was initially held on no bond, but appeared in Garland County District Court on Monday where her bond was set at $3,500 and she received a court order barring her from any contact with Cash Savers. She remained in custody Tuesday and a review hearing is set for July 19.

She has no criminal history, according to court records, but has had several arrests for misdemeanor criminal trespassing over the past year.

According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday, Hot Springs Police Officer Austin Rogers was dispatched to Cash Savers regarding a shoplifting incident and made contact with a security guard who said he saw a woman grabbing items from the shelves and putting them away. in her purse.

The woman had entered the bathroom when Rogers arrived, but he was able to contact her and restrain her. She was identified as Fitzgerald and a check of her purse allegedly revealed the items she was seen taking, so she was arrested.

While searching her, the police allegedly found two other stolen items hidden under her shirt. Upon further searching his bag, Rogers allegedly found a glass pipe with residue and a white paper rolled up with “a rubber band holding it together”, which contained 0.7 grams of what later tested positive for methamphetamine .

Once at the detention center, Fitzgerald was strip searched and a glass jar of olives was allegedly found hidden in her private parts and was also confirmed to be from Cash Savers. The total amount of food and drinks taken was $18.89.