According to a Dalton Police Department incident report, On February 5th, 2023, at 4:37 PM, officers responded to the Walmart located at 815 Shugart Road in reference to a shoplifting in progress. Officer Gilreath made contact with the loss prevention associate, who advised there was a female suspect on the scene placing store merchandise into a duffle bag. The loss prevention associate pointed out the suspect female, later identified as Darla R Mejia, 49, of Tennessee, on camera, who walked towards the exit passing all points of sale. Officer O’Neal and another loss prevention associate stopped Mejia as she was leaving the store. Officer Gilreath asked Mejia what she was doing on this date at Walmart, and she advised she was shoplifting. Mejia advised she took a duffle bag from Walmart and began shoving it full of unpaid merchandise. The loss prevention associate showed officers video footage of Mejia shoving items into the duffle bag that she mentioned taking. Mejia was also wearing a reebok jacket and sweater, which she advised was stolen from Walmart as well. The loss prevention associate provided a receipt for the stolen items. The receipt showed a total of 17 items and $350.55. Mejia was transported to the Whitfield County Jail and charged with theft by shoplifting.
Tennessee woman arrested after shoplifting over $300 in merchandise from the Dalton Walmart
