By Jim Clark

A police officer who was parked at the Somerville Ave. Target store parking lot was flagged down by store loss prevention personnel as they chased suspected shoplifters as they attempted to flee the scene.

The officer assisted in capturing one of the suspects, identified as Hannah Diaz, and took her back into the store’s loss prevention office to await back-up police assistance.

The loss prevention personnel briefed the officer on what had transpired before Diaz was apprehended.

According to their testimony, Diaz and three male companions had entered the store about two hours earlier and slowly began collecting things, placing them in a shopping cart.

The group eventually made their way to the exit doors, whereupon Diaz was reportedly spotted taking two sets of automobile windshield wipers and attempt to walk out of the store with one of the men without paying for them.

The loss prevention officers gave chase, leading to the moment when the police officer assisted with apprehending Diaz, who had pushed past one of the store employees as she attempted to run away.

The male companion reportedly got away, and the loss prevention officers felt that he may have taken several bottles of perfume.

According to reports, Diaz was reportedly coherent and cooperative when first taken to the loss prevention office, but by the time the back-up police officer arrived she appeared to be borderline catatonic and would not speak, other than uttering her name and Social Security number.

Diaz was placed under arrest and charged with assault and battery and shoplifting by asportation.