By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Kmart on Middlesex Ave. last Thursday evening on reports of a shoplifter who was being uncooperative with store Loss Prevention personnel.

Upon arrival, the officers were approached in the parking lot by the suspect, Lesley Smith, of Boston.

Smith reportedly told the officers that she had been caught shoplifting, and it was explained to her that she had to follow Loss Prevention back to their office so they could process her information.

After a few seconds of arguing with Smith, who initially refused to reenter the store, she eventually complied and followed Loss Prevention back to their office.

While in the office, Smith was reportedly uncooperative. After speaking with the Loss Prevention staff, the officers learned that additional items Smith had stolen were in her vehicle that was parked the parking lot.

The officers and a Loss Prevention staffer escorted Smith to her vehicle, where she opened her trunk to retrieve the stolen merchandise.

Smith had several Kmart shopping bags in her trunk containing various items, some stolen and some with receipts.

As one of the officers was verifying the items in Smith’s bag, with his arms inside the trunk, Smith said “Excuse me,” which was the only warning given before she slammed the trunk shut. The lip of the trunk door struck the knuckle of the officer’s left ring finger as he tried to pull his hands out.

Smith was subsequently handcuffed and taken to the station for booking on a charge of assault and battery on a police officer and on a warrant charge of shoplifting by concealing merchandise.

The injured officer filed a criminal complaint against Smith for the assault. Kmart Loss Prevention did not wish to pursue criminal charges for the shoplifting.