CLARKSTON, Wash. — Julie Claffey, 52, was arrested Wednesday on a felony charge of robbery from a local Clarkston Walmart, according to new court documents.
According to the Clarkston Police Department (CPD), a security guard spotted Claffey walking out of Walmart with “several hundred dollars worth of merchandise” and alerted CPD before attempting to stop him.
Claffey was uncooperative with the security guard, and after walking past all the departments, he abandoned the full shopping cart at the front of the store.
When CPD arrived, Claffey returned to the store, made some purchases, and then attempted to leave the store again.
Before approaching her, CPD identified the woman as Claffey, who had been permanently banned from Walmart in 2015 for multiple theft charges.
When police approached her in the parking lot, Claffey claimed she hadn’t stolen anything and was just trying to go to the bathroom after leaving a cart of merchandise by the front door.
After CPD explained to Ms. Claffey that she ended up in the bathroom, she changed her topic and said she was looking for the help desk.
Ms. Claffey provided CPD with a receipt showing that she had paid in full. The total receipt was only about $50.
An investigation of the store and security camera footage showed Claffey walking past every sales department, help desk and restroom.
CPD then arrested Claffey and she was taken into custody.
She was booked into the Asotin County Jail on charges of second-degree robbery and second-degree theft.
Her bail was set at $10,000 and she is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on January 22.