Shoplifting Florida woman pepper-sprayed Walmart employees, police say - Newsweek

A Florida woman is on the run after she allegedly pepper-sprayed and wielded a knife at Walmart employees to get away with shoplifting more than $350 worth of stolen items, police said.

Doranda Jo Ussery entered the Walmart at 2000 State Road 60 East in Lake Wales, Florida, shortly after 5.45 a.m. on Sunday.

She later fled the scene after spraying several employees with pepper spray and wielding a knife after security stopped her from leaving the store.

The Lake View Police Department told Newsweek on Tuesday that Ussery remains at large and has not been arrested. "We are still looking for her," Lieutenant David Black said.

Ussery, 24, shopped for more than two hours before heading to the self-checkout registers, police said.A Florida woman is on the run after she allegedly pepper-sprayed and wielded a knife at Walmart employees to get away with shoplifting more than $350 worth of stolen items, police said.

She was approached by a loss prevention officer, who told her not to forget to pay for the sunglasses and backpack she had picked up and was wearing. Ussery said she no longer wanted the sunglasses and claimed the backpack belonged to her boyfriend.

She paid $16.34 for the other items she was carrying and made for the exit carrying several Walmart bags and the backpack.

When she set off security alarms, an employee stopped her and Loss Prevention asked her to return to the store. Instead, Ussery fled into the parking lot and dropped several cards bearing her name, allowing Walmart to identify her.

Police said she then followed security back into the store and into the Loss Prevention office and told them she would return the stolen goods if they did not call authorities. Ussery told them she was on probation and had two children, according to police.

Security recovered $358.23 worth of stolen items from Ussery and began completing paperwork. But before they could call police, Ussery pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed the loss prevention employees in the face. As they tried to control Ussery, she sprayed two other employees who were in the office at the time.

Loss Prevention was able to take the pepper spray from Ussery, but she then pulled out a knife, with a blade measuring 3-4 inches, and began making stabbing motions. The two Walmart employees were able to escape the office, dodging Ussery's swings with the knife, police said.

Ussery then fled the office with loss prevention running out behind her. Police say she fled the scene after getting into the passenger side of a red Chevrolet Cruz in the parking lot.

Officers later located the driver and the vehicle, but Ussery remains at large. Ussery, of Avon Park, is wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft and battery.

Newsweek has requested comment from Walmart.

Her arrest history includes burglary, grand theft auto, resisting an officer without violence, giving false identification to law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Anyone with information on Ussery's whereabouts is urged to call Detective James Lewis at 863-678-4223 extension 264 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 800-226-8477.