Lake Elsinore: Suspects arrested in Walmart theft

A woman, who allegedly tangled with a security guard to enable her teenage associates to escape with stolen goods, is behind bars today.

Brandi Monique Williams, 31, was arrested in connection with suspicion of robbery, conspiracy and child endangerment after a confrontation at a Walmart store. She’s being held in lieu of $45,000 bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

According to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. John Carlberg, around 9:40p.m. Thursday, loss prevention officers at the Walmart spotted three teenagers snatch merchandise and head out of the store without paying.

The security guards pursued the youths into the parking lot, where the suspects started to get into a 2004 Mercury sedan, Carlberg said.

He said a woman jumped out of the car and “fought with the officers, allowing the three juveniles to avoid being detained.”

The combatant was identified as Williams.

Witnesses noted the vehicle’s license plate before it sped away, and deputies tracked it down to a house on Vista Toscana in Lake Elsinore, according to the sergeant.

Carlberg said Williams and the owner of the Mercury, Annette Tusan, were taken into custody without incident.

The three teens, whose identities were withheld, were also arrested at the location and booked on suspicion of shoplifting and conspiracy. They were released to the custody of their grandfather.

Tusan was cited for a misdemeanor and released on her own recognizance.