Crime Watch: Alleged shoplifter slaps cops, gets cuffed

An 18-year-old woman from Boston left the Arsenal Mall in handcuffs after reportedly attempting to return perfume bottles at Victoria’s Secret with a false receipt, running from the cops and allegedly slapping them in the face after being confronted.

According to reports written on July 15 at 5:37 p.m., an employee at Victoria’s Secret told police that two females had come into the store and concealed a large number of bras in an Old Navy bag and left the store. One of the females, identified as Latresa Jones, reportedly came back to the store trying to return four bottles of perfume worth $132.30 with a faulty receipt.

After being approached by police officers, Jones allegedly became verbally abusive and was asked to calm down. When asked about the receipt, Jones took off running through the mall. Police chased her toward the front entrance where Jones lost her footing and fell, reportedly getting back up in a “fighting stance,” according to police.

Jones allegedly struck both officers in the face and the chest. She was arrested for larceny under $250, disorderly conduct and two counts of assault and battery to a police officer.

After a call was made to police about alleged car break-ins in the Arsenal Mall area, police patrolled the area on July 12. In a report made at 6:46 p.m., police said they saw three suspicious males walking toward the front entrance of the mall.

After seeing the police cruiser, the men reportedly walked back to their vehicle and left the lot. Police scanned the license plates to find that the owner of the car, a 16-year-old juvenile from Boston, had a warrant out for his arrest for assault. Police stopped the car at Arsenal and Arlington streets.

The three men were reportedly “uncooperative.” When another officer arrived at the scene, he noticed the passengers trying to hide a plastic bag with what looked to be cocaine.

Police searched the glove compartment and found 18 small plastic bags. Both Adelaiker Garcia, 19, of 492 Harvard St. in Boston, and Nichiren Peral, 18, of 18 Moreland St. in Roxbury, were arrested for possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute. The juvenile was arrested on the warrant.  

A Maple Street resident reported that his home was broken into sometime from July 9-11. According to the report, the robber entered the bedroom by pushing the air conditioner through the window. Of the items missing is a Play Station 2 with two controllers, a digital camera, an iPod, a jar of change, $150 in cash and assorted jewelry. Police are investigating. 

A resident of Whites Avenue reported to police on July 9 at 1:22 p.m. that after ordering a book from Amazon.com, the package was found on the front porch without the $26 book inside.

Dana O’Keefe, 26, of 93 Braeside Road in Falmouth, was arrested and charged with assault and battery on July 10 at 11:56 p.m.

At Marshall’s on Arsenal Street on July 10, it was reported to police that a female customer attempted to steal a pair of high heels worth $79.99. The female, a 17-year-old from Arlington, was detained. Marshall’s will handle the incident at Waltham District Court. 

While patrolling the Galen Street area on July 11 at 1:30 a.m., a police officer noticed that 10 brand-new vehicles lining the road at Colonial Chrysler Jeep were scratched along their hoods. 

After shopping at GNC inside the Arsenal Mall, a victim reported to police on July 5 at 7:11 p.m. that he went to Radio Shack and placed three white bags filled with $300 in protein products on the floor and walked to the sales counter. Moments later, the victim claimed that two females walked toward the bags, and fled out of the store without being caught. 

Casey Doe, 32, of 31 Hardy Ave was arrested and charged with assault and battery on July 3 at 11:38 p.m.

On July 11 at 9:40 a.m., an employee of the engineering firm Sasaki Associates Inc. at 64 Pleasant Street reported to police that someone spray-painted random words on the west side of the building.

The owner of a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner reported to police on July 12 at 6:19 p.m. that while parked at the Watertown Mall parking lot, someone smashed the driver’s side window between the hours of 5:50 and 5:15 p.m. and stole a GPS navigational unit worth $2,500.

A man working on a condominium complex at 111 Watertown St. reported to police on July 12 at 6:16 a.m. that sometime overnight, two nail guns worth $350 each were taken from his truck.

According to Detective Lt. Michael P. Lawn, during the week of July 9 and July 15, the Police Department responded to 434 calls for service and/or assistance, which resulted in eleven arrests, three for a controlled substance act, three warrants, two for protective custody, one for shoplifting/larceny, one for driving while intoxicated, and one for domestic violence. 

Readers with tips on possible crime are asked to call the Police Department’s confidential phone number, STOP-A-CRIME, at 617-972-6408.