Marcel Wallace tried to buy three coats, worth $620, for $26; his sister, 19-year-old Jessica Wallace, was the cashier and she also faces misdemeanor theft charges, Magill said.
UPDATE @10 a.m. (Dec. 21)
Survelliance video of the incident was released just moments ago and we have now it in-house, posted here and here.
UPDATE @8:55 a.m. (Dec. 21)
Surveillance video is expected to be released today that allegedly shows a theft suspect jumping off an escalator to elude police.
The video will be posted here once we obtain it.
UPDATE @ 6:10 p.m. (Dec. 20)
A brother and sister were charged with theft at the Dayton Mall Saturday night after a man trying to flee police and store security jumped from an escalator.
Marcel Wallace, 21, was taken to Kettering Medical Center on a backboard and in a neck brace after his plunge from the escalator. Miami Twp. police Sgt. Kevin Landis said Wallace was conscious and talking after the incident. He was no longer listed as a patient Sunday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Wallace and his sister, 19-year-old Jessica Wallace, were both charged with theft and Marcel additionally faces an obstructing official business charge, Landis said. All charges are misdemeanors.
“They switched tags on some Michael Kors coats so they rang up way less than they’re supposed to,” Landis said.
Jessica Wallace worked as a cashier at the Macy’s at the Dayton Mall. Marcel Wallace is accused of swapping the Michael Kors tags for tags on inexpensive shirts. He then got in his sister’s line so the three coats valued at $620 instead rang up as $26, Landis said. When store security tried to stop him, he fled and tried to go down an up escalator. He jumped from the escalator after an officer got on it.
Jessica Wallace was arrested at the scene at booked into the Montgomery County Jail, where she has since been released. The Wallaces will be arraigned later in Miamisburg Municipal Court, Landis said.
FIRST REPORT (Dec. 19)
Miami Twp. police said a suspected shoplifter at the Dayton Mall was injured when he jumped from an escalator while trying to run away from police and loss prevention.
Officers requested medics to the mall around 7:20 p.m. Saturday after a man jumped from an escalator and landed on the floor below.
Miami Township police Sgt. Kevin Landis said the man was being pursued by loss prevention from Macy’s after allegedly taking goods. The man, who was only identified as a male in his 20s, began running down the up escalator and when he saw an officer coming up the escalator, he jumped.
Landis said the officer attempted to catch the man, but was kicked, and could not stop the man from jumping. The man suffered unknown injuries and was taken to Kettering Medical Center for treatment.
Landis said charges have not yet been filed and it was not immediately known what the man was attempting to take from Macy’s.
Landis also said the entire event was captured on mall security cameras and will be available later.
The incident remains under investigation by Miami Township police.