BEDFORD — A homeless woman was arrested Tuesday morning, Oct. 27, 2026, following an alleged shoplifting incident at a local Family Dollar, a subsequent foot pursuit with police, and the recovery of multiple legend drugs without prescriptions, according to court documents.
Selena Jesusa Thalia Guadalupe Gonzales, 29, faces preliminary charges of theft (under $750), resisting law enforcement by fleeing on foot, and four counts of possession of a legend drug.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Sergeant Derek Blackwell of the Bedford Police Department, officers were dispatched at 8:31 a.m. to the Family Dollar located at 704 16th St. following a report of a theft.
Store employee Cora Sims informed police that Gonzales had entered the store despite previously being told multiple times not to return. Sims confronted Gonzales about being on the premises, at which point Gonzales allegedly grabbed a box of Vivitar Pro True Wireless Earbuds valued at $20.75 from the shelf and fled the store on foot toward 16th Street.
Employees provided surveillance footage to officers, which allowed police to identify the suspect’s clothing: a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Foot Pursuit and Apprehension
Shortly after officers arrived, Officer Jones spotted a woman matching the description sitting against a retaining wall just west of the store near 16th and H streets. When Officer Jones drove into a nearby parking lot, the suspect looked toward the patrol vehicle, stood up, and immediately took off running.
Despite verbal commands to stop, Gonzales fled east, climbed a retaining wall, and headed north toward 16th Street. Officer Jones pursued her on foot and successfully detained her near the north side of the business.
Meanwhile, other officers recovered the stolen earbuds package in the landscaping near the west wall of the building.
Legend Drugs Discovered During Search
During a search incident to the arrest, officers located a pouch containing a large assortment of unprescribed pills. The medication was later identified using pharmaceutical databases as:
- 45 pills of Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride (25mg)
- 33 pills of Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride (50mg)
- 31 pills of Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride (25mg)
- 3 pills of Sertraline Hydrochloride (100mg)
When interviewed by police, Gonzales admitted to being inside the store but denied stealing the earbuds. Regarding the medication, she claimed the pills were prescribed to her but could not produce prescription bottles or correctly name the medications.
Gonzales was formally issued a trespass warning prohibiting her from returning to the Family Dollar and was subsequently transported and lodged at the Lawrence County Jail.
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.
