Published: May 18, 2009 02:26 pm      

Woman attempts to steal $800 in merchandise

By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer

A Pine Knot woman was arrested Friday afternoon for allegedly attempting to steal nearly $800 in merchandise from the Williamsburg Wal-Mart.

According to police, the woman was so intoxicated on an unknown substance that she could “barely even speak.” She also had an infant child with her, which was taken into protective custody.

Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said Starr Kidd Sizemore, 29, attempted to push a shopping cart filled with “a little bit of every type of merchandise you can imagine — from women’s lingerie to hardware” out the front door. A loss-prevention officer detained Sizemore and called police.

Assistant Chief Rick Mosley responded to the scene around 4 p.m. Friday. According to Mosley’s arrest citation, Sizemore was so intoxicated that she “could hardly stay awake,” and she also allegedly “resisted being handcuffed and refused to walk to the cruiser.”

In addition to resisting arrest, public intoxication, and theft by unlawful taking-shoplifting, Sizemore was also charged with second-degree disorderly conduct for “the scene” she caused while officers attempted to arrest her.

“She was screaming quite a bit and caused a public scene,” Jackson said.

Sizemore had an infant with her while she attempted to walk out with the cart full of merchandise. Jackson said child services was called, and the infant was taken safely to a relative’s home. The child wasn’t injured during the incident.

According to Jackson, Sizemore’s intoxication played a large part in the alleged crime.

“From what I understand, she had the buggy stacked over her head with merchandise,” Jackson said. “And from what the employees told me, she just tried to walk out the door. I don’t think she even realized what she was doing because of whatever she was on.”

Sizemore was taken to the Whitley County Detention Center.