NEWARK, DE — Two Maryland residents are charged with felony theft and drug offenses after an alleged shoplifting attempt Wednesday afternoon at a Newark sporting goods store, according to Delaware State Police.
Troopers said they responded at approximately 4 p.m. February 18 to Dick’s Sporting Goods at 100 Center Drive for a report of shoplifting in progress.
According to police, 47-year-old Ron Wardlaw and 43-year-old Lashonda Rooks, both of Baltimore, allegedly selected more than $3,300 in merchandise. Investigators allege Rooks entered a fitting room with items while Wardlaw exited the store, leaving a shopping cart filled with merchandise near the front entrance.
Police said Wardlaw allegedly spoke with an unidentified third accomplice who entered the store looking for the cart, but store employees had already recovered the merchandise. The third individual fled before troopers arrived, according to police.
Authorities allege Wardlaw attempted to drive away when troopers arrived, but his vehicle was stopped a short distance from the store. Troopers also located Rooks in a fitting room, where she was allegedly cutting security tags from merchandise with a tool. Both were taken into custody without incident, police said.
During a search of the vehicle, troopers reported locating approximately 17.85 grams of suspected heroin.
Wardlaw was charged with possession of a controlled substance Tier 3 quantity, attempted theft — organized retail crime over $1,500, and second-degree conspiracy, according to police. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $60,000 secured bond.
Rooks was charged with possession of a controlled substance Tier 3 quantity, possession of shoplifter’s tools or instruments facilitating theft, attempted theft — organized retail crime over $1,500, and second-degree conspiracy, police said. She was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $61,000 secured bond.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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