Evansville, IN – Police say a routine shoplifting incident at a local dollar store escalated into a dangerous confrontation when a woman allegedly attacked an employee with a bottle of Hawaiian Punch and then tried to run him over with her Jeep.
A probable cause affidavit, first detailed in reporting, describes how 34-year-old Melissa Ann Noble was accused of stealing a phone charger and charging block before the encounter turned violent.
Shoplifting Complaint Quickly Escalates
According to investigators, the incident began around 7:30 p.m. Thursday near the Dollar Depot on Washington Avenue. An employee told officers he saw Noble take a cellphone charger and charging block without paying. She reportedly left the store and drove across the street to a gas station in a Jeep, prompting the employee to follow.
The affidavit states that the worker attempted to photograph the vehicle’s license plate for documentation. As he stood behind the Jeep, Noble allegedly confronted him with a large bottle of Hawaiian Punch, swinging it and striking his hand. Officers noted that the bottle was recovered inside the vehicle still partially full.
Employee Says She Tried to Run Him Over
The situation escalated more dramatically when Noble returned to her Jeep. According to the employee’s account within the affidavit, she first put the vehicle in reverse with the worker still behind it, forcing him to quickly move out of the way…