Woman arrested for felony retail theft in Columbia

A Belleville woman was arrested following a retail theft reported early Wednesday evening at CVS Pharmacy, 100 Admiral Trost Road, Columbia.

Shortly after 5 p.m., Columbia police officers were notified of the theft of alcohol from the store. The suspect was believed to be a black female wearing a long, black wig and she was last seen in a white Chevrolet sedan.

Columbia’s traffic enforcement officer observed a car matching that description traveling north on Route 3 and pulled it over at Wedgewood Drive a short time later.

A woman in the vehicle initially provided a false name to police, but she was later identified as Erica R. Johnson, 32, of Belleville. Johnson was charged with two counts of felony retail theft (prior conviction) and obstructing identification and also arrested on a St. Clair County warrant.

Court information alleges that Johnson stole liquor from CVS on May 27 and July 3, having previously been convicted of retail theft in St. Clair County.

Columbia Police Chief Jerry Paul said Wednesday’s incident is still under investigation.

Two thefts were also reported at CVS last week. For more on those incidents, click here.

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