Phoenix Shoplifting Videos And Arrest Phone Cameras Footage

CURRENT FACT SHEET SUMMARY OF PHOENIX POLICE RESPONSE TO SHOPLIFTING INCIDENT RESULTING IN OFFICERS
BEING REMOVED FROM THE STREET AND ASSIGNED TO DESK DUTY.
• Date: May 27, 2019 at approximately 11:17 a.m.
• Location: 1600 N. 36th Street
• On May 27, Phoenix Police received a call for assistance from the store manager
to report a shoplifting inside the store.
• During the investigation the store manager alerted the officer to a second
shoplifting in progress and the people from that incident were now getting into a
vehicle in the parking lot.
• As the officer approached the vehicle, he observed female #1 drop an item
before getting in the car, then the vehicle quickly reversed and drove away.
• Moments later the vehicle stopped at McDowell Road, female #1 exited the
vehicle and the car again drove away. The officer learned the female had three
misdemeanor warrants for her arrest and was booked for the outstanding
warrants.
• The vehicle was located a short distance away and stopped in an apartment
complex about a mile away. Officers arrested the male driver and a second
female.
• The male driver told an officer he shoplifted a package of underwear from the
store and threw them out the window, and in addition he was driving on a
suspended license.
• Female individual #2 told an officer that her aunt (female #1) and child went into
the store together. Female #2 also said she saw her child walk out of the store
with a doll and she believed they had stolen it because they didn’t have any
money. Also, the female said she heard the officer in the parking lot tell the driver
to stop the car several times, but he didn’t.
• The store manager declined to prosecute, so no one was arrested for
shoplifting.
• On June 11, Phoenix Police was made aware of video taken by residents at the
apartment complex showing extremely offensive and unprofessional language
and actions by officers during the arrests. That same day, Police Chief Jeri
Williams requested the officers be removed from the street and assigned to desk
duty while an investigation takes place.
• On June 14, the Police Department provided to the media the police report of the
original call to the local business on May 27, 2019. On the same day, Chief
Williams shared a videotaped message with the community expressing how
disturbing the video was, her expectations of employees, the need to give due
diligence for the investigation and her support of the men and women of the
department who faithfully protect and serve the community