A trip to the Madill Walmart turned into a trip to jail for a Durant resident. At approximately 5:30 p.m. on January 6, the Asset Protection Manager of Walmart Daniel Tallack reached out to the Madill Police Department for a possible theft in progress. The manager told Officer Alex Boren that he had witnessed a female, later identified as Chelsey Gamboa of Durant, placing items into her tote bag. He requested Boren to be on standby in case the 27-year-old female attempted to leave the store without purchasing said items.
The Asset Protection Manager attempted to stop Gamboa as she exited the store with stolen items, but she continued to the parking lot. At this time, Boren noticed Gamboa walking town aisle six in the parking lot, carrying the tote described by the Tallack.
Boren instructed the suspect to stop, and informed her that it was reported she did not pay for the items in her bag. Apparently, Gamboa forgot how store etiquette works, because she told Boren that she was “going to her vehicle to get money to purchase the items.” Boren and Gamboa both returned to the manager’s office to discuss the incident with Tallack.
Boren inquired if Gamboa was alone, and what car she was driving.
Gamboa stated that she was alone and she was in the red Dodge Durango parked by the lawn and garden area. After learning where the vehicle was located, Boren went to make sure there was no accomplices waiting in or around the vehicle. The officer then returned to the manager’s office to ask the suspect about the two other handbags full of merchandise he noticed in the rear of her vehicle while checking for accomplices.
Gamboa stated that she had only taken items from the Madill Walmart and there “should not” be any other stolen items in her vehicle. Boren then returned to the vehicle to get a closer look at the mysterious items in the tote bags, and attempt to locate Gamboa’s identification, since she did not have it on her.
Sergeant Shannon Beshirs placed Gamboa into custody and placed her in the rear section of his patrol unit. Presumedly, it would seem that the suspect was going to jail for Larceny of Merchandise from a Retailer. However, the afternoon was not done, and she would go on to rack up more charges.
After Beshirs placed Gamboa into his patrol vehicle, Boren contacted the sergeant via cell phone. Boren advised Beshirs that while he was looking for Gamboa’s identification, he located a “sufficient quantity of a crystal-like substance.” Boren also confiscated two pill bottles containing several different pills, and a small bag next to the pill bottles.
Upon opening the bag, Boren found approximately 6.2 grams of a crystal-like substance and a set of digital scales. The substance was field tested and popped positive for Methamphetamines. Beshirs read Gamboa her rights after the phone call and she waived them and spoke to the sergeant. She informed him that she had used Meth three times in the past week, along with her boyfriend.
The suspect then placed the blame on her father, saying he was a heavy user and responsible for giving her the drug.
The suspect was booked into the Marshall County Jail, and had two cell phones on her person. The phones were seized and a search warrant was completed to attempt to get information on the sales of the illegal substances.
Gamboa is currently facing Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of CDS, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Larceny of Merchandise from a Retailer in Marshall County. She is also facing Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in Bryan County and Trafficking in Love County.