One arrest in Belk shoplifting case that turned violent

One of two people allegedly involved in a theft and hit-and-run at the Belk store at New Bern Mall last week has been arrested and charged.

Jessica Dawn Lilly, 19, of Ernul, turned herself in at the New Bern Police Department on Monday, according to a news release from the department. She has been charged with felony conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, felony hit and run, reckless driving and larceny.

The charges were filed in connection with an incident that occurred Dec. 10, when a woman and a man stole clothing from Belk, and then hit a security guard as they tried to drive away from the scene in a car.

A loss prevention officer at Belk spotted two people shoplifting on one of the store’s surveillance cameras. He followed the two outside and ordered them to return into the store.

The man came back toward the store, and then ran toward a nearby wooded area. The officer followed in pursuit as he turned back toward the parking lot. The woman drove a car toward the two, and the man jumped into the back seat.

According to the news release, the security officer tried to open the door to the car, which police said belonged to Lilly. She drove away with the male suspect in the backseat, accelerated, and then trapped the security officer with her car door. She continued to drive, pulling the guard under the car until she struck a parked vehicle.

She was placed in the Craven County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Although she turned herself in, officers were able to identify her after citizens saw pictures of surveillance footage from Belk on local media outlets.

Police are still looking for the male suspect involved in the case, 23-year-old Rodney Delano Ormond. He was last known to be living on Ten Mile Fork Road in Jones County.

Anyone with information about his location should contact police at 252-633-2020.

Laura Oleniacz can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at loleniacz@freedomenc.com.