DUBOIS – A Brockway woman caught shoplifting was found to be allegedly carrying more than stolen merchandise.
DuBois City police talked with Melissa Dawn Reitz, 45, because witnesses had seen her putting clothing in her purse.
A search of that purse reportedly uncovered 155 grams of suspected methamphetamine and she had a total of $7,378 in cash in the purse and on her person.
Reitz, who was charged with a felony count of manufacture/delivery/possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a felony count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts, a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary retail theft, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Friday during centralized court.
Her bail was lowered from $75,000 to $50,000 at that time, but court documents show she remains incarcerated.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police responded to the retail theft call on Jan. 7 at the Goodwill store in DuBois.
The manager told them she saw the woman, later identified as Reitz, putting at least two different pieces of clothing in her large purse. When officers approached Reitz, she had a shopping cart loaded with clothing.
She was taken to the office where she was told the manager saw her stealing. Reitz said she wasn’t going to lie and allegedly admitted to the theft. She began to pull clothing worth about $45 out of her large purse.
When she continued to rummage in the purse, one of the officers took it from her due to concerns for their safety.
In the bag, they found a white crystalline substance and a large knife, police said.
Reitz was transported to the police station, where the substance kept in five separate bags, was weighed.
Officers also reportedly found a digital scale, more plastic bags and the cash in the purse.
The money was in envelopes, one of which had two names with dollar amounts next to them, police said.
