SOUTHBURY — Two people were arrested Saturday afternoon after allegedly shoplifting from Stop & Shop and possessing illegal drugs, according to Southbury police.
Officers responded to the store at 100 Main Street North at approximately 3:20 p.m. for a report of an active larceny.
Emergency dispatch advised officers that two suspects had left the store without paying for items and fled in an unknown direction.
Officers located a woman pushing a shopping cart full of unbagged groceries at the intersection of Main Street North and Main Street South.
The woman was identified as Gwendolyn Lee, 57, who admitted to shoplifting and was arrested without incident.
A search of Lee’s belongings revealed drug paraphernalia and a white rock consistent with crack cocaine, police said.
Officers continued searching the area and found a second suspect matching the description in the parking lot of a Shell gas station.
The suspect briefly fled on foot when ordered to stop but was quickly apprehended.
The suspect was identified as Angel Mercado, 31, who was wearing a blond wig to conceal his identity, police said.
A search of Mercado revealed drug paraphernalia and a white rock consistent with crack cocaine.
Both suspects were transported to the Southbury Police Department for processing.
Lee was charged with sixth-degree larceny, use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
She was released on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Waterbury Superior Court on Aug. 20 at 9 a.m.
Mercado was charged with sixth-degree larceny, use of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and interfering with an officer.
He also had an active arrest warrant for violation of probation with a total bond of $25,000, which he could not post.
Mercado was held and scheduled to appear at Waterbury Superior Court on Aug. 12 at 9 a.m.
