Three local women faced theft charges after they allegedly stole from a donation box of toys meant for needy children.
Police said the theft was reportedly at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, December 7, 2014 at the Walmart in Aledo, Illinois.
A statement from the Aledo Jaycees indicated it was their “Toys for Needy Children” box from which the items were allegedly taken. The organization provides Christmas gift toys to about 300 children in Mercer County, according to Aledo Jaycees president Jarod Dale.
Investigators said they arrested three local women in connection with the alleged theft: 18-year-old Deandra Cooke of Davenport, Iowa; 25-year-old Lacinda Granado-Overton of Moline, Illinois and 26-year-old Tarica Wright of Rock Island.
All three women were charged with felony theft according to Aledo Police Chief Michael Sponsler.
Granado-Overton was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving while revoked. Court records showed she was paroled in July 2014 after facing previous forgery and retail theft charges, and that she was released from the Rock Island County Jail on December 3, 2014, after an unrelated arrest for alleged retail theft.
Wright was also charged with obstruction of justice, and she had a previous warrant issued for her arrest in Rock Island County in connection with a theft charge, Sponsler said.
Court records showed Cooke also had a case pending in Scott County in connection with an unrelated theft charge filed against her in early 2014.
All three women remained held in the Mercer County Jail as of Monday morning, December 8.
