Bleeding Kingsport shoplifter charged with a felony for damaging merchandise
KINGSPORT TN Dec 17 2017— A woman’s misdemeanor thefts at a pair of Fort Henry Mall stores quickly bled into a felony charge, according to police, after she sliced her hand while trying to remove security devices and smeared blood on $1,600 in clothing.
Jessica L. Atkins, 30, of 319 Cannon St., Kingsport, was arrested Wednesday night.
According to an incident report at the Kingsport Police Department, mall security received complaints about Atkins and stopped her as she left Rue 21.
Atkins was allegedly found to have stolen $50 in merchandise from that store, while employees of Hibbett Sports reported she had earlier swiped $216 in goods from them. Police records do not indicate how she concealed the items, but all were recovered.
Back at Hibbett, an employee added that Atkins had approached him with a bleeding hand, stating that she needed to “go clean herself up.” After she hastily departed, approximately 50 pieces of athletic clothing and sports team apparel were found stained with blood, making the merchandise unfit to sell.
When questioned, Atkins reportedly argued that she shouldn’t be charged with vandalism, as it was a tag from Hibbett Sports that cut her and caused the bleeding. However, a box cutter was allegedly located in her purse, and police believed that she injured herself while trying to cut anti-theft devices from merchandise.
Atkins was arrested and transported to the Kingsport city jail on a charge of vandalism of more than $1,000. Police told store personnel how to seek a criminal summons against Atkins for shoplifting.
Time News
