WPD Adds Narcotics Possession Charge After Arresting Woman for Shoplifting

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police arrested two women on shoplifting charges at the Rhode Island Mall Walmart Feb. 20 at 3:21 p.m., also charging one of them with possession of narcotics after finding one Alprazolam pill and three Clonazepam pills during a search of her belongings at Warwick Police headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.

When Officer Walter Larson arrived at the location in response to a call for two women in custody of Walmart asset protection on suspicion of shoplifting, he spoke with the asset protection associate, who told him the two women, Alyssa Ellingwood, 29, of 31 New London Ave., Apt. 10, West Warwick, and Leanne Allessandro, 40, entered the store, proceeded to the women’s department, then placed clothing, jewelry and other merchandise in their purses before leaving without paying for the goods.

Ellingwood concealed a flower patterned bag, two sheet sets and a pair of men’s socks in her purse, worth a total of $142.60. Alessandro concealed two dog toys, two necklaces and two shirts in her purse worth a total of $37.46.

Loss prevention employees intercepted the women outside the store, confronted them and escorted them back inside to wait for Larson.

Alessandro was cited on scene for misdemeanor shoplifting and scheduled for a date in Third District Court on March 6, then released. Ellingwood was taken into custody, since she had a prior shoplifting conviction. She was transported to Warwick Police Headquarters, where a search of her person turned up the Alprazolam pill and three Clonazepam pills in a small purple plastic container.

Larson charged Ellingwood with a felony shoplifting charge and two counts of Possession of Schedule I-V narcotics.