Alleged shoplifter faces felony drug charges; more than 40 pills found purse
A Pearcy woman who allegedly stole numerous items from a local department store Saturday was later arrested on felony drug charges after numerous ecstasy pills and other drugs were reportedly found in her purse.
Jenna Nicole Roark, 21, who lists an Aldridge Road address, was taken into custody shortly before 5:30 p.m. Saturday and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 20 and 10 years in prison, possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years, and misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and theft of property under $1,000, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Roark was being held on
$13,000 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Hot Springs police Officer 1st Class Tifani McCauley responded to Belk Department Store, 500 Cornerstone Blvd., regarding a theft and spoke to an employee who stated that between 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. a woman, later identified as Roark, was seen carrying several items of merchandise into the fitting room.
She left the room carrying the items in a green tote bag and exited the store without paying for them. McCauley reviewed security video and confirmed Roark could be seen leaving with the tote bag “stuffed full” of the clothing items, with an estimated cost of $156.98. She could not be located at that time.
Around 5:15 p.m., McCauley responded to On the Border Mexican Cafe, 190 Pakis St., regarding two suspicious people in the bathroom. She identified the same woman seen shoplifting at Belk sitting at a table inside and noted one stolen item, a white purse with gold strap, was over her shoulder.
She made contact with Roark and she reportedly admitted she was wearing some of the merchandise she stole from Belk.
She was taken into custody and in searching her purse, the officer reportedly found 43 pills with different colors and symbols, all suspected to be ecstasy, one oxycodone pill, two used syringes and several unused syringes, and a Pom Pom pouch containing 2.4 grams of marijuana.