This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Shoplifting Suspect Accused of Hitting Woman Twice with Car in Oconee Walmart Parking Lot

Another woman reportedly punched a store security guard when he confronted the two suspects Tuesday evening. An arrest doesn't mean a conviction.

An Athens woman accused of trying to steal less than $100 worth of clothing from Walmart on Epps Bridge Parkway is behind bars also facing a charge of aggravated assault for allegedly striking a customer twice with her getaway car.

Oconee County Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.  The woman who reportedly had been struck by the car was lying on the ground in the parking lot and her left leg was bleeding, according to an incident report.

The injured woman, 38, told deputies she saw two women fighting with a store security guard outside and she tried to stop them. That's when, she says, the suspects hopped into a car and the driver placed it in reverse and backed into her.

Find out what's happening in Oconeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She then approached the driver's side and yelled for the car to stop and that she'd been hit, but the driver allegedly turned and hit the woman again, striking her in the knee and knocking her to the pavement.

The suspects fled in a white 2001 Lexus GS300, according to witnesses. 

Find out what's happening in Oconeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The injured woman was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center for treatment.

According to the store security guard, it all began when he saw the two suspects each trying to steal less than $100 worth of clothing items.  When he approached them, he says one of the women hit him.

The suspects were later taken into custody at their homes on Oak Hill Drive in Athens, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.

Deputies charged Jessica LaLisha Patton, 28, with aggravated assault and 20-year-old Marrissa Quadia Putman with battery. Both were also charged with theft by shoplifting.

Don’t miss any Oconee news. Subscribe to Oconee Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Oconee