Author: Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

Cynthia Money attempts to steal from Nordstrom Rack, caught hiding under dumpster

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

34-year-old Cynthia Money was caught shoplifting in a store on Poplar Avenue on March 21st. When officers arrived, they spoke with Timothy Ross, who advised Money was shoplifting out of the Nordstrom Rack business. Ross stated that Money stuffed all the items into her purse, and when she tried to walk out, he attempted to stop her. Money then started fighting back against him. Ross claimed that as he was fighting Money, Brandon Blaylock, another suspect, started running towards him, allowing Money to escape. Ross was able to grab Money’s keys and her purse before she took off running. As officers were checking the vehicle, they were approached by Blaylock, who stated he was waiting in the car when Money went inside the store. Officers searched the area where Money was last seen and located her underneath a dumpster behind an eyewear store Near Perkins Exit. Officers searched Money’s car for additional items and found multiple drug paraphernalia. Money was taken into custody and charged with theft and drug paraphernalia. 

Lataisha Smith punches woman in head, spits on her during argument

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

23-year-old Lataisha Smith was seen assaulting someone in a shopping center near North Germantown Parkway on January 30th. When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with Ashanti Lowe, who stated that she and Smith had mutually agreed to meet up. Lowe proclaimed to officers that she and Smith had gotten into an argument, and it got heated. During the argument, Smith proceeded to strike Lowe several times in the head and torso. Lowe also stated she fell to the ground and that Smith continued to punch her. Lowe also claimed that Smith spat on her as well. Lowe had a video of the altercation and showed it to officers. On February 2nd, Lowe gave a statement about the assault and identified Smith in a photo lineup. Smith was taken into custody on April 24th and was charged with assault.

Armoni Cottrell steals $830 while working at Home Depot

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

23-year-old Armoni Cottrell was caught stealing money from her Home Depot job near Polar Avenue on April 24th. When officers arrivee, they spoke with James Ford, who stated that Cottrell, an employee,  stole $830.03 from the store between April 9th and April 17th. Ford also stated that Cottrell was unaware of what was going on and that she was being held inside the office. Ford also claimed to have video evidence of Cottrell taking cash from the register and shoving the money under the arms sleeves of her jacket. Officers took Cottrell into custody and charged her with property theft.  

Sharon Banner charged after stealing from multiple business, soliciting officers for sex

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

59-year-old Sharon Banner was seen stealing from numerous locations and soliciting officers. On July 26th, 2023, officers responded to a shoplifting incident at a Family Dollar near Jackson Avenue. They met with Winford Moorehead, store security, who said Banner came into the store, picked up four 12-packs of Sprite, and walked out. On August 5th, 2023, Moorehead reported that Banner had come in again, picked up two 12-packs of Sprite, kicked him, and walked out of the store. On August 12th, 2023, officers went to the store on Jackson Avenue and got a recorded statement from Moorehead. Moorehead was shown a six-person photo display and identified Banner to the officers as the person who was responsible for the thefts and the assault. Banner was given a citation for two counts of theft and one count of assault but failed to appear in court. On August 13th, 2023, Officers responded to a Shoplifting incident at a Family Dollar near Jackson Avenue. When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with Moorehead, who stated that a known shoplifter, Banner, he had previously identified, had come into the store, picked up two 12-packs of Sprite, and walked out of the store without paying. Banner was given a misdemeanor citation but failed to appear in court again.

On Sunday, July 30th, 2023, Officers made contact at the same Family Dollar near Jackson Avenue and spoke with Khaliyah Mosley, another store employee. Mosley stated that Banner had come into the store, stolen four cases of 12-pack Sprite sodas, and fled on foot. Banner was then given another citation for theft of merchandise but failed to appear in court again. On November 8th, 2023, Officers conducted an undercover operation near Jackson Avenue. While in the area, an undercover officer was flagged down and approached by Banner, who, after a brief conversation, Offered to give the officer oral sex in exchange for $10. The incident occurred within 1.5 miles of Garden Elementary. Officers gave Banner a misdemeanor citation for prostitution, but she failed to appear in court again.

On February 1st, 2024, Officers responded to a theft that Banner had committed on Chelsea Avenue. When they arrived on the scene, officers spoke with Shalk Wares, who stated that Banner had selected food from the display rack and walked off the property without paying. Banner had been previously banned from the business. Due to previous encounters with her, wares identified Banner as the person responsible for this. Banner was charged with burglary. Banner was taken into custody on April 24th, 2024, and charged with six counts of theft of merchandise, one count of assault, one count of burglary, and one count of prostitution.

Booster Jeosha Jones steals $1,848 worth of merchandise from multiple stores

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

31-year-old Jeosha Jones was seen stealing out of a Macy’s near Germantown Parkway. On April 12th, officers arrived on the scene; they spoke with Shawn Higginbotham, who works for Macy’s loss prevention. He stated he saw Jones enter the business, conceal many items in a bag, and stash the bag near the exit doors. Higginbotham then said he saw Jones exit the business and pulled her vehicle near the exit doors. Higginbotham then claimed that Jones re-entered the business, retrieved the bag, and exited the business without paying. The items were valued at $1200.

On April 15th, Jesse Malone, who works at a Target near Highway 64, reported that on April 12th, Jones and another female were seen stealing. Malone stated that both females were observed through surveillance, selecting and placing merchandise in Target bags and walking back out of the store into Jones’s vehicle. The merchandise is valued at $648. On April 16th, investigators identified Jones’s vehicle via her license plate at a home near Mountain Terrace Street and put her into a 6-person lineup. Higginbotham and Malone identified Jones from the lineup. Jones was taken into custody and charged with two counts of theft on April 23rd.

Tamika Walls steals bottle of bourbon whiskey from Quench Wine and Spirits

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

32-year-old Tamika Walls was caught stealing from Quench Wine and Spirits on South Second Street on February 14th. When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with the cashier working at the time of the incident. The cashier stated they saw Walls reportedly walk into the back of the store and grab a bottle of Bourbon whiskey. The cashier then observed from the surveillance cameras that Walls placed the whiskey into a backpack and walked out of the store. Officers wrote Walls a citation for the incident. Walls then failed to appear in court on April 15th. Walls was then taken into custody on April 23rd for theft of property.

Lateranie Love destroys ex-boyfriend’s apartment windows with box fan

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

22-year-old Lateranie Love was seen damaging her ex-boyfriend’s Staten Avenue apartment residence on April 15th. When officers spoke to Jaylond Graham, Love’s ex-boyfriend, on April 19th, he stated that on April 15th, Love arrived at his residence and walked in the front door. Graham then said she picked up a box fan and began breaking the windows to his residence. Graham then claimed Love also punched holes in the walls with the box fan. On April 21st, Graham gave a recorded statement and identified Love from a six-person lineup. Love was taken into custody on April 23rd and charged with vandalism.    

Tytianna Lucas caught stealing while using self-checkout at Walmart

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

9-year-old Tytianna Lucas was caught stealing at a Walmart near North Germantown Parkway on February 17th. Lucas reportedly walked into the Walmart and gathered many items, which she took the tags off of before approaching the register. After this, Lucas skipped scanning multiple items during checkout, did not pay for the items, and began walking toward the exit. Lucas was then detained by Walmart security until officers got there. Officers then issued her a citation for the incident. Lucas then failed to appear in court on April 17th for the citation. Lucas was booked on the citation for theft of merchandise on April 23rd.

Melissa Swift cuts girlfriend with knife multiple times during argument

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

41-year-old Melissa Swift was involved in a domestic incident with her girlfriend, Amanda Gaddy, at a Zelda Lane residence on April 23rd. When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with Gaddy, who stated that she and Swift got into a verbal altercation that turned physical. Gaddy stated that Swift was armed with a knife and had begun swinging at her, cutting her arms. Gaddy then said that she attempted to grab the knife, which is when she received cuts on her hand. Officers then located Swift hiding in the backyard, and took her into custody. Officers spoke with Swift, who claimed that she did not cut Gaddy. Officers then spoke with the 9-year-old daughter of Gaddy. The child stated she heard her mother screaming to “get off of her.” The child also claimed that she had seen Swift on top of Gaddy with a knife,  attempting to stab her. Swift was charged with domestic assault and aggravated assault.

18-year-old Morgan Walker rips mother’s wig off during argument over car keys

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

18-year-old Morgan Walker was involved in a domestic incident with her mother at their Millers Glen Way residence on April 22nd. When officers arrived, they spoke with Morgan Walker, who stated that she had been involved in a verbal altercation with her mother, Felicia Walker, about returning her car. Morgan then claimed she arrived home, and her mother followed her to her bedroom, asking where her car keys were. Morgan then claimed that both parties began yelling at each other before Felicia Walker, her mother, slapped her across the face. Morgan then advised that they both began hitting each other before her brother, Cortavius Hamer, got involved and held her down by her neck.

Officers then spoke with Felicia Walker, who stated she had asked Morgan to bring her car back multiple times throughout the day and had confronted her when she got home. Felicia admitted to following Morgan to her bedroom, where they both began yelling at each other. Felicia then claims that Morgan ripped her wig off her head, and the altercation became physical. While speaking to Felicia, officers noticed a laceration across her hand, and Felicia stated Morgan bitted her.

Deputies then spoke with Cortavius Hamer, who stated Morgan and his mother did get into an altercation, but he didn’t know who started it. He also stated he observed both parties hitting each other and attempted to break it up. Hamer then proclaimed to have put Morgan into a bear hug to break it up but advised that he did not choke Morgan at any time.

Officers also spoke with Raven Johnson, Morgan’s aunt, and Felicia’s sister. Raven stated that she was on her phone and could hear some scuffling. She also claimed that she heard Morgan threaten to get somebody to “spray” her and Felicia’s residence. Raven also claimed she heard Morgan make that threat numerous times. Due to conflicting stories, officers could not determine a primary aggressor, and both Felicia and Morgan were taken into custody. Morgan was taken into custody for two counts of Domestic assault on April 23rd.