Woman faces prison in theft of Tums, whipped cream
Bellingham WA Oct 24 2017 A Bellingham woman is facing robbery and assault charges after she attacked a grocery store security guard who detained her for shoplifting, police said.
But she didn’t expect an off-duty Seattle Police detective would be in the store to stop the assault.
Liana Rose Parrish, 21, was booked Sunday by Bellingham Police on charges of first-degree robbery, third-degree assault and third-degree theft. She remained in jail Monday morning.
Bellingham Police Lt. Mike Johnston said Parrish was suspected of taking a package of Tums and a container of whipped cream from the Haggen grocery store in the Sehome Village shopping center. A security guard confronted her about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Johnston said.
“When security stopped her, she tried to push her way past the victim,” Johnston said. “She then kneed the security officer in the groin area and he tried to control her. She then began to stomp on his feet in an attempt to free herself and flee. An off-duty Seattle (Police) detective came to assist and handcuffed her and stopped the assault.”
Johnston said what would have been a misdemeanor theft charge escalated to robbery when Parrish reacted violently and injured the Haggen security guard. Johnston said Parrish had two knives in her purse but didn’t try to use them.
First-degree robbery is a class A felony with a sentence of 3 to 12 years or more, according to 2016 Washington State Adult Sentencing Guidelines Manual.
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