CLARKSTON, WA – A 37-year-old Clarkston woman was arrested over the weekend after she allegedly attempted to steal hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise from Walmart. According to a Probable Cause Affidavit, Jessica Marcelis was taken into custody on Saturday at 11:10 p.m. and booked into the Asotin County Jail on charges of 2nd-Degree Burglary and 3rd-Degree Attempted Theft.
Dispatchers were advised Saturday night that Marcelis, who had been previously trespassed from Walmart on December 28th, was reportedly in the store at the self-checkout with three or four bags over her shoulder containing items allegedly taken from the store but not paid for.
A loss prevention officer had informed police that Marcelis had allegedly walked through the store placing items into a shopping cart and then placing them into the blue Walmart shopping bags. She reportedly purchased two drinks but did not pay for the rest of the items.
“After leaving the self checkout…she left to the bathroom with the items,” the affidavit says. Loss prevention staff had described Marcelis as wearing a black tank top, black shorts, and a white COVID mask.
As an officer approached the bathrooms, he noticed that Marcelis was now wearing a white tank top with shorts walking toward him with her head down. She was no longer wearing the mask. The officer stopped her and informed Marcelis that she was not supposed to be in the store.
A blue shopping bag was reportedly found in Marcelis’ purse. Inside was her black tank top and a black jacket.
“In the other two shopping bags, I found misc items from body care, to watches to perfumes. I found one receipt for two drinks dated on the days date,” an officer says in the affidavit.
A Walmart employee collected the items which had a total value of $498.30.
