Suspected shoplifter accused of assaulting department store employee with her handbag after being caught

Lang
1/8/23

Coralville Police say a shoplifting suspect assaulted a department store employee after she was caught in the act.

Arrest records indicate 26-year-old Takia Dean of C Avenue NW in Cedar Rapids was at Von Maur on the Iowa River Landing just after 3pm on November 28th when she was seen on security video concealing merchandise inside her handbag, then leaving past all points of sale without paying.

When confronted by a loss prevention officer, Dean was allegedly uncooperative and refused to return the stolen items.  The Von Maur employee was able to recover two articles of clothing before trying to return to the store. Dean reportedly chased after the victim, punching him in the face and hitting him with her handbag.

Dean was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 11:00 Saturday night and charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury and 5th Degree Theft. If convicted on both charges, she faces a maximum of 13 months in jail.