'Combative' Thief Scratches Police Officer During Arrest: Cops

Editor's note: one name was removed from this article as the person showed Patch documentation proving their charges were dropped.

SAN BRUNO, CA – Two female shoplifters, one of them who became combative, were arrested outside a local mall after police said they found stolen property in their possession, San Bruno police report. The duo was arrested on suspicion of theft and assault on an officer following a report Sunday at the Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno, police said.

At 5:46 p.m. police went to The Shops at Tanforan at 1150 El Camino Real after a caller reported two females allegedly took items from the mall without paying. Responding officers reportedly found the women — along with the stolen goods.

"A subsequent investigation revealed that one of the subjects was in possession of stolen property on her person while the second subject possessed over $2000 worth of stolen merchandise in an associated vehicle," police said in a news release.

The suspects were identified as 27-year-old San Francisco resident Patrice Moananu and (removed).

As the two were arrested, one suspect "became combative" and scratched an officer's neck with her fingernail, according to the San Bruno Police Department. The two were taken to the San Mateo County jail.

Jail records show that Moananu was arrested on suspicion of battery on a peace officer, petty theft, resisting arrest and battery with serious bodily injury. Jail records were not available for (removed), but police said she was arrested for the same offenses.

--Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Renee Schiavone, Patch