A Leesburg woman who was arrested for shoplifting $135 in merchandise also received narcotic-related charges at Walmart.
A loss prevention associate of Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Blvd., noticed 40-year-old Michelle Lou Flanagan going through the tools and and stationary departments around 9:20 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
In these aisles, she put merchandise inside her purse. She then went to the self-checkout registers where she paid for a few things but not what was in her purse. She was ultimately confronted by loss prevention and brought to their office, the report said.
Flanagan stole a total of $135.61 in merchandise, including markers, jewelry, cards, candy and clothes. She later told law enforcement that she did something stupid and admitted to stealing, the report said.
Additionally, officers noticed the smell of marijuana while they were searching her purse. A more thorough investigation revealed an orange and light blue glass pipe with burnt narcotic residue and an ibuprofen medication bottle with six Xanax pills. Flanagan claimed they were prescribed by a doctor from Walgreens but could not prove it, the report said.
She also admitted that the burnt residue on the pipe was marijuana. A search of her person followed, and officers discovered another glass pipe with burnt residue and a short blue straw, the report said.
Flanagan was arrested and charged with retail theft (one prior conviction), possession of Xanax and three counts of drug paraphernalia (possess or use). The native of the Philippines was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $4,500.