MITCHELL – A Mitchell woman and a local man were arrested on December 17, 2025, following a theft investigation at the Dollar General on Main Street.
The investigation began when Officer Blackwell of the Mitchell Police Department was approached by a store employee regarding ongoing thefts. The employee identified David Mundy as a frequent shoplifter who had allegedly been stealing candy from the store for two months. While reviewing security footage of Mundy, the employee also alerted the officer to a separate incident involving Tonya Hattabaugh, 54, who had allegedly left the store without paying for several items the previous night.
Later that evening, Officer Blackwell returned to the store for a trespassing complaint involving Hattabaugh. Both Hattabaugh and Mundy were located inside the business.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Mundy admitted to taking items from the store on multiple occasions after being read his Miranda rights. Hattabaugh claimed she believed she had paid for all her items but offered to pay for anything she might have missed.
After reviewing security footage from the night of December 16, Officer Blackwell observed Hattabaugh failing to scan two small items and completely disregarding a large bag of cat food, estimated at 30 pounds, while at the self-checkout.
Dollar General management requested that both individuals be trespassed from the property and opted to press criminal charges. Both Hattabaugh and Mundy were taken into custody and transported to the Lawrence County Jail on a preliminary charge of theft, a Class A. misdemeanor.
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.
