CLARKSTON, WA — A woman was arrested and a man cited Wednesday night after police responded to a report of a theft in progress at the Clarkston Walmart, where store staff said the pair concealed meat and other groceries during checkout.

According to the Clarkston Police Department, officers were dispatched around 9:13 p.m. after Walmart Asset Protection staff observed two individuals using reusable shopping bags at self-checkout. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Juanita May Palmer, 44, of Clarkston, removing several bags of chips to reveal packages of steak underneath, which were not scanned before being re-covered and placed back into the bag.

Store personnel estimated the total value of the unscanned merchandise at approximately $405.89. All items were recovered and returned to Walmart.

Palmer was arrested and booked into the Asotin County Jail on suspicion of second-degree burglary. Police said she had been previously trespassed from a different Walmart in 2020 for a similar incident.

A male companion was cited and released on a third-degree theft charge following the investigation.

According to police documents, both individuals cooperated with officers, and the incident was captured on body-worn cameras.

The case remains under review by the Asotin County Prosecutor’s Office.