Same suspect and charges but dozens more stolen items, many in her undergarments, cops say

Publish date: 2024-05-26

LEESBURG, Fla. (TND) — A woman seen here when she was accused of "ripping price tags off of numerous items and placing items into the front of her pants," is apparently at it again. And again.

Lisa Ruth Powers was arrested twice more and clearly established a modus operandi, according to her latest arrest reports.

The business clerk at a Dollar General store in Florida said he saw her, "wearing a black sweater and gray sweatpants, concealing unpaid items into her pants" on March 28, the report said.

“[He] also explained, she had a camouflage bag — another unpaid item belonging to the store — that she was concealing additional items into.”

Police were told, “Lisa came into the store and walked around for approximately 20 minutes before going to the back of the store, where she was observed concealing the items.“When asked about why the items were concealed, Lisa stated someone outside waiting on her was going to pay for them.

“She also stated that she had Euro and Canadian dollar bills she was going to exchange at the bank, and then pay for the items.

“Officers did not locate another individual on the premises that knew Lisa.”

So the employee called police and officers got to the scene so quickly, “They located Lisa in one of the aisles,” the arrest report said. “Lisa denied the accusations of the theft at first; however, after locating items on her person, she began to provide explanations.”

She was put in the back seat of a patrol car but about 10 minutes later, “Lisa appeared to be passed out while still breathing while seated [and] after not observing a physical response from Lisa,” paramedics came and took her to the hospital.

Apparently, Powers never made it to jail for a booking photo.

Instead, “She was issued a misdemeanor citation” for retail petit theft-second offense and “released on her own recognizance” at the hospital, “waiting to receive treatment.”Later, police revealed, “A total of 21 stolen items were recovered from Lisa's sweatpants pockets, inside of her underwear, and from within the stolen bag she obtained during the incident.”

She did have three European bills worth $150 and a Canadian $50 bill; plus, she was banned from Dollar General and has a plea negotiation conference scheduled for July 3.

Powers was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors, just a few weeks later.

Police showed up at a Kangaroo Express convenience store on May 21 and found a woman “detained for stealing from the store,” according to that arrest report. “The defendant stated that she would not wait and began to walk away.

“[An officer] told the subject once more to wait, and to place her hands behind her back.

“While attempting to place hand constraints on the defendant, and telling her to stop resisting, the defendant refused to comply.“[The officer] instructed the defendant to lay on her stomach after placing one handcuff on her right wrist, to which the defendant continually refused to comply.”

It took a second officer “to place the second hand restraint on the defendant,” and that’s when authorities searched her.

According to the arrest report, “A small clear plastic container with a white crystal-like substance inside, resembling methamphetamine, was located within the right upper portion of the defendant's bra.“Additionally, the defendant was carrying a black bag draped over her shoulder [and] within that bag, a small bag he was located inside of a rolled-up dollar bill. Inside the baggie was a white powdery substance.”

Police said the suspected drugs tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and a store employee told them she stole two consumable items: beef jerky for sale at $2.69 and candy for a dollar.

Powers was taken to the Leesburg Police Department and “continuously refused to exit the vehicle,” the arrest report said.

Inside, and perhaps surprisingly, officers did not know who she was.

“The defendant still did not provide her identity,” the report said. But eventually, she did.

Powers, 41, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), retail theft with one prior conviction, resisting without violence, plus failure to appear for petit larceny-first offense.

Her bail was set at $9,000 and she has not paid it, so this time, she remains behind bars.

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