BEAUMONT: Two officers injured during brawl with Walmart shoplifting suspect

BEAUMONT – Two City of Beaumont police officers were injured during a lengthy scuffle with a shoplifting suspect Wednesday, March 15. The violent encounter happened at Wal-Mart, in the 2nd Street Marketplace at 1540 E. 2nd Street in Beaumont.

Both injured officers sustained minor injuries during the parking lot brawl and two women were arrested after the incident, according to police officials.

At the conclusion of their investigation, officers arrested Ebbony Monique Gaines, 28, of Barstow, and Clauwaneshanae Champane Jeter, 27, of San Bernardino.

The incident began when a Beaumont police detective, who was driving through the store’s parking lot, was flagged down by Wal-Mart loss prevention officers.

The store employees advised the detective that they had just caught two women shoplifting but the pair had fled from employees when they attempted to detain them.

The detective quickly spotted the two women running through the parking lot and chased after them.

When the detective caught up with the two fleeing women, “One decided she had been caught and followed officers commands…the other decided to put up a fight,” a police official explained in a written press release after the incident.

Although Gaines followed the detective’s orders, Jeter immediately began resisting arrest and fighting with the detective.

The detective put out an emergency call for assistance, at which time “every available unit” raced to the scene to assist the detective, according to officials.

Responding officers began to flood into the parking lot within minutes; however, Jeter continued to violently resist arrest and actively fight with the detective and other responding officers.

After a long struggle, officers managed to subdue Jeter and she was taken into custody.

Firefighter/paramedics and American Medical Response medics responded to the scene to evaluate and treat the two officers who were injured during the violent incident. Officials did not specify the nature of the officer’s injuries or if they required hospitalization and further treatment.

Gaines, who did not fight with the detective or other responding officers, was cited and released for petty theft.

Jeter was arrested and booked for petty theft, battery with serious bodily injury and resisting a police officer.

An online jail records search revealed Jeter was released from jail the day after her arrest, after posting $10,000 bail. She is scheduled to be arraigned at the Banning Justice Center April 28.

Officials used the incident to remind other citizens that, “Running from the police (just) brings more police.”

Anyone who witnessed this incident or who has further information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact Beaumont police officials at (951) 769-8500. Callers can refer to incident file number 1703B-2011 and can remain anonymous. Citizens can also provide information anonymously at [email protected].

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.