Trio catch theft, drug charges

PONDERAY — Three Washington women were arrested last week after officers say they stole thousands of dollars in merchandise from the Ponderay Walmart.

The charges follow a report by a Walmart loss prevention employee called with reports of a potential theft. According to court records, the employee told officers they believed the vehicle was still in the parking lot and provided law enforcement with the license plate number.

Upon arrival, the officer allegedly saw the vehicle and approached the three women loading items into the vehicle.

“I advised the three females I was there investigating a theft and they were now formally detained for said investigation,” the officer wrote in the probable cause affidavit.

Two of the women — identified as Brenda Symons and Tiffany Alexander — allegedly began cooperating almost immediately with officers and pulled out the stolen merchandise, putting them in respective shopping carts to separate them, court records said. The third woman, who identified herself as Elizabeth Hortman, allegedly claimed she had not stolen anything and remained seated in the car.

After noticing numerous new Walmart items in the backseat near Hortman, Symons allegedly opened the trunk of the vehicle, which was full of other new merchandise. These items, the two women told officers, were all Hortman’s, as everything they had taken was in their respective carts, court documents contended.

“[Hortman] was unable to provide a receipt for the items, claiming she had it sent to her phone digitally, but she also did not have her phone with her,” the officer wrote in the affidavit. “[Hortman] said she paid in cash for over $900 worth of merchandise using a self-checkout register…”

Court records contend that when Hortman’s information was run, an active felony warrant out of Washington appeared. Alexander and Symons were walked back inside with items police allege were stolen while a Bonner County deputy waited outside with Hortman. The 17 items allegedly taken by Alexander amounted to roughly $530; those allegedly taken by Symons are valued at nearly $350.

A THC vaporizer pen was discovered in the vehicle when officers walked back outside to speak with Hortman, court records said. Upon a further search of the vehicle before taking the remaining stolen items inside, court records contend a red “tooter,” used foil with burnt drug residue and a baggie with drug residue were found in a purse in the vehicle.

“This is consistent with smoking illegal drugs, in particular, heroin, fentanyl pills and other prescription narcotics,” the officer wrote in the affidavit.

Alexander allegedly claimed ownership of all three drug items found in her purse but had no knowledge of any other drug paraphernalia, court records said. She was placed under arrest for felony burglary, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use.

Her preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 17.

Hortman allegedly admitted to walking out of the store without paying for any of her items and claimed ownership of the THC pen, but denied ownership of a red bag that was discovered containing two methamphetamine pipes. After two denials, she allegedly admitted ownership of the bag and its contents.

Court records contend that Hortman’s 153 stolen items totaled nearly $1,400. She was arrested on charges of fugitive of justice for an outstanding warrant, possession of a controlled substance, grand theft, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use. Her preliminary hearing date is Jan. 17.

Another bag was found in the vehicle containing four bags of methamphetamine as well as a scale and numerous other unused baggies. Court records contend that Symons originally denied that the bag was hers, claiming she left her drug paraphernalia at home. However, upon further questioning, Symons allegedly admitted the bag was hers.

“Symons claimed there to be about an ounce of methamphetamine in the bag,” the officer wrote in the affidavit.

Despite the multiple baggies, she allegedly claimed that the methamphetamine was all for her use and she did not traffic it or sell it to anyone else.

Officers advised Symons she was under arrest for possession of methamphetamine, with the possibility of the charge being upgraded to a trafficking charge pending the final weight of the meth found in her bag. She was also charged with possession of paraphernalia with the intent to use. While she was not originally charged, court records contend the officer advised her they intended to also charge her with petit theft for the items she stole from Walmart.

When the methamphetamine was weighed, it amounted to roughly 2.2 ounces — enough for a trafficking charge to be added to Symons. The substances inside the other bags additionally tested positive for cocaine, court records contend.

Symons was contacted at the jail to notify her of the upgraded charge as well as an additional possession charge for the cocaine. Her preliminary hearing date is also set for Jan. 17.