BEDFORD – A woman is facing theft charges following an alleged shoplifting incident at the Dollar General store on State Road 37 in Lawrence County on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
According to an affidavit for probable cause filed by Deputy Travis Atchison of the Lawrence County Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Dollar General at approximately 10:55 a.m. after the store manager reported witnessing a female shoplifting.
Upon arrival, Deputy Atchison made contact with the store manager, who stated she had observed a female pilfering items and then followed her outside, where she was able to recover the stolen merchandise. The incident was reportedly captured on the store’s surveillance system, and the video footage was submitted as evidence.
The manager did not recognize the initial female suspect but noted that three other individuals remained in the suspect’s vehicle. Deputy Atchison made contact with these occupants, who claimed they did not personally know the female, stating they had picked her up while she was walking along the side of the road. One individual believed her first name was Jasmine Gates.
The Lawrence County Dispatch was able to locate information for Jasmine Gates, who had a listed address near the Dollar General store. While continuing to speak with the manager, she reported discovering empty packaging for merchandise she suspected had been stolen by another individual. A review of the store’s surveillance footage subsequently confirmed that Jasmine Gates was the female involved in the initial shoplifting incident.
The manager requested that all three vehicle occupants—Angela Jewell, Robert Henderson, and Dianda Roberts—be formally trespassed from the Dollar General property. Deputy Callahan completed the trespass forms and explained their implications to the individuals.
Following the identification of 26-year-old Jasmine Gates and her address, Deputy Atchison, along with Deputy Callahan and Sergeant Pope, attempted to make contact at her residence on Dixie Highway, but found no vehicles in the driveway and received no answer to repeated knocks.
Based on the investigation, probable cause has been established to believe that Jasmine Gates committed the offense of theft, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She was detained on Friday, July 25.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
