A woman arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 19, for trying to steal $1800 worth of merchandise from a Target store in Framingham, Massachusetts—while around 65 police officers were on hand for a childrens’ charity event—has been rushed to hospital from court, after telling officers she swallowed bags of drugs, David Robichaud of WBZ-TV reported via his Twitter account at 9:10 a.m. local time on Dec. 20.
Minutes earlier, Robichaud reported via his Twitter account that the presiding judge had set the woman’s bail at $250 after the woman’s defense attorney said the woman was unable to afford the $500 cash bail that prosecutors had called for during a bail hearing the day after her arrest.
Allen was caught during the “Shop with a Cop” event, at which officers played Santa’s elves to more than 180 needy children.
“You couldn’t have walked into Target and not know there was something going on,” said Grigas. “There were cops in uniform everywhere.”
She then allegedly filled a large Rubbermaid container with over $1800 worth of goods and attempted to push it out of the store in a shopping cart without paying, police said, according to CBSBoston.
When store security stopped Allen, she “put up a stink,” and then fought with police, kicking a police cruiser door several times, Grigas told reporters.
Allen has been charged with larceny of property worth more than $250, resisting arrest, and providing police a false name during booking.
During her arraignment Wednesday in Framingham District Court, prosecutors told the court Allen has a criminal history.
The defense called her a “victim of the opioid crisis.”
Not long after the judge set bail, it was reported that Allen had been taken to the hospital.
