Two parolees and another suspect who tried to get a refund on merchandise stolen from a Murrieta store, leading to a confrontation with police in which an officer was injured, were behind bars today.
Ronald Kevin Jackson, 32, of San Diego, Jessica Rochelle Bennett, 21, of Escondido and Michael Anthony Edwards, 58, of Vista were arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of commercial burglary, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
Jackson and Bennett were additionally booked for alleged parole violations, and Jackson alone was arrested on suspicion of battery on a peace officer.
According to Murrieta police Sgt. Don Weller, around 4:15 p.m., Jackson allegedly approached a clerk at a Rite Aid in the 40400 block of Murrieta Hot Springs Road and asked for a refund on an item without a receipt.
Suspecting the merchandise was stolen, the clerk declined Jackson’s request and contacted police. Officers arrived moments later and confronted the 6-foot-2, 320-pound suspect as he was leaving the store, according to Weller.
“As officers placed Mr. Jackson under arrest, he physically resisted them and an altercation ensued,” the sergeant said. “Mr. Jackson was ultimately placed under arrest after a brief struggle, which caused minor injuries to one of the officers.”
Bennett and Edwards were located in a car in the store parking lot, waiting for Jackson, according to Weller. Both were arrested without incident.
He said an investigation revealed the trio allegedly swiped merchandise from a shelf at the Rite Aid earlier in the day, and Jackson went back with it in an attempt to get money.
“It also appeared these subjects are responsible for numerous similar thefts across Riverside and San Diego counties,” Weller said.
Jackson and Edwards were booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta. Jackson is being held without bail; Edwards in lieu of $5,000 bail. Bennett was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, where she’s being held without bail.
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