Local News

Mass. women facing numerous charges after allegedly shoplifiting, assaulting officers with mace in N.H.

The suspects allegedly stole items from the American Eagle and Polo outlets.

Two women allegedly stole merchandise from the American Eagle and Polo stores at the Merrimack Premium Outlets on Saturday, according to police. AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File

By Lindsay Shachnow

August 12, 2024

1 minute to read

Two women allegedly shoplifted and assaulted officers at the Merrimack Premium Outlets on Saturday.

After receiving a report of a theft in progress at the Polo outlet around 3:45 p.m., officers located two female suspects — Maryah Williams of Boston and Lasonia Watler of Brockton — in the American Eagle outlet with stolen merchandise from both stores, according to a statement from the Merrimack Police Department.

Upon seeing police, one suspect allegedly attempted to conceal her stolen items, and both resisted detainment, authorities said.

Williams allegedly kicked an officer in the stomach and discharged pepper spray into the officer’s eyes and into the air, affecting the other officer and other people in the store. Merrimack firefighters and EMS treated the officers, as well as offered treatment to patrons of American Eagle, according to the statement.

Both women were taken into custody but “continued resisting and yelling obscene and racially insensitive insults in a public setting causing a disruption to other shoppers,” the statement said.

Williams and Watler were taken to Merrimack Police Department for processing and are now being held at the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections, police said.

They are scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Merrimack District Court on Monday, officials said.

Watler faces a felony charge of receiving stolen property, while Williams faces felony charges of receiving stolen property, attempted second degree assault, and falsifying physical evidence, the department said. They both face additional misdemeanor charges of simple assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and possession of theft detection device removal tools.