A father and mother accused of stealing with their infant at the Oxford Valley Mall were taken into custody for child endangerment and drug related offenses, Middletown Township police say.
Sears Loss Prevention staff were pursuing and attempting to stop “several retail suspects” in the Oxford Valley Mall on Saturday at around 2:30 p.m as Middletown Township Police arrived on scene.
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According to court records, James Gillespie, 23, of Levittown, and Jamie Bell, 20, no fixed address, refused to stop when Sears loss prevention tried to.
A Sears employee pointed out the suspects to police. The two were were pushing a baby stroller occupied by an infant. Police asked the suspects to wait as they spoke with the Sears anti-theft employee, who told authorities he observed Gillespie, Bell and a third female steal jewelry that was on sale, , according to the probable cause affidavit.
The employee further told police, according to court records, that he attempted to confront the trio as they left the store in the upper mall. The male Gillespie stepped in between the loss prevention specialist and Bell telling her to “run” as he was clutching the infant in his arms, police said.
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Officers took Gillespie and Bell into custody and while searching the male suspect authorities found several baggies containing a white powder and hypodermic needles in baby’s diaper bag, police records say.
The infant is the son of Gillespie and Bell, according to court documents.
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Gillespie was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, intent to possess a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a related offense. Bell was charged with child endangerment and retail theft.
The third person was not charged with any crimes, according to online court documents.
Both suspects are were sent to Bucks County Jail on on 10 percent of $50,00o. Both were released Wednesday on their recognizance pursuant to a bail order that was filed, according to online court documents. They are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 5.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
