Alleged robbery at Walmart leads to three arrests in East Wareham
A reported shoplifting at Walmart in East Wareham led to three arrests, including one on drug charges, by Wareham Police on Thursday afternoon.
According to police, Walmart security reported a man and a woman shoplifted a notebook computer from the store and fled the area in a white sedan at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Police said within seconds Officer Blaise Lalli noticed the vehicle traveling on Rte. 6&28, occupied by five people. The vehicle was stopped in the area of the park and ride lot on Maple Springs Road in East Wareham, approximately one mile from the Walmart store.
A search revealed a Hewlett Packard notebook computer inside the vehicle between the front seats, according to police.
Police said two occupants inside the vehicle were positively identified as the suspects who stole the computer from Walmart and were identified as 50-year-old Valerie Cornwell of Osterville, MA and 45-year-old Jonathan Santos of New Bedford.
Police said during a search, officers discovered Cornwell was in possession of several pills, believed to be Hydroxyzine, inside a plastic bag and a syringe.
Another passenger, 30-year-old Michael Carey of Watertown was placed under arrest for four outstanding felony warrants issued by Boston courts regarding previous charges involving thefts, namely stolen motor vehicle related charges, police said.
The two remaining passengers were not identified as being present during the alleged theft and were not found in possession of any illegal drugs, said police.
Cornwell has been charged with larceny over $250 and possession of a class E substance (Hydroxyzine). Santos has been charged with larceny over $250.
The three individuals arrested were to be arraigned at Wareham District Court Friday.