A New Jersey woman is accused with fighting a grocery store security guard after stealing steaks.
According to police, Jean West Ratchford, 44, of Trenton, began fighting a security guard at the Redner’s Market on Lincoln Highway in Middletown after the female security staff tried to stop the woman who attempted to walk out of the store with $103 in steak.
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Officers were called to the store and responded to meet with staff. Another officer began searching the nearby area where the Ratchford was last seen heading.
Ratchford was apprehended on the on-ramp to I-95 and was taken into custody.
Court papers state the security guard observed Ratchford placing at least a dozen steaks in her purse as a man acted as her lookout. During the scuffle in the front of the grocery store, the security guard was able to grab the ham handed thief’s purse as Ratchford fled on foot.
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Police said Ratchford gave officers a false name and later discovered to have another warrant out for her arrest.
Ratchford was charged with robbery, retail theft, false identification, disorderly conduct and harassment. She was arraigned by on-call District Judge Joanne Kline and sent to county lockup on 10 percent of $15,000.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
