According to a Dalton Police Department incident report, On April 18th, 2023, at 9:51 AM, Officer Murdoch responded to the Walmart at 815 Shugart Road in reference to a shoplifter who was in the loss prevention office. The associate stated that and showed the officer the video of the subject, Gary Tidwell, opening a plastic package that had a folding knife and then using that knife to open a package of walkie-talkies and then put all items into his pockets. After the associate got Gary into the office, Gary was found to be concealing a black hat in his jacket that was not paid for. Gary stated he was in the store with his mother. Officer Murdoch reported, “We attempted to locate Gary’s mother until a Walmart employee saw her at the self-checkout. The employee stated that they saw the woman skip scanning items. We watched Gary’s mother continue to check out and watched her skip scan a few more items. After she was finished, she began to leave the store, where she was stopped by other loss prevention officers. The female identified herself as Lora Ellen Hudgins, 55, [I] informed her why she was stopped. In total, five items were skip-scanned for a total of $23.25. The loss prevention associate advised that she had already been trespassed from all Walmart properties for shoplifting.” While searching Lora’s belongings, officers located several prescription bottles. Officer Gurerro transported Gary to the Whitfield County Jail. Lora was booked into the Whitfield County Jail and charged with theft by shoplifting, criminal trespass, and drugs to be kept in the original container.
Mother and son duo arrested after shoplifting from the Dalton Walmart
