Walmart Thief Couldn't Outrun Joliet Officer: Court Filings

JOLIET, IL - A convicted thief who lives in Crest Hill remains locked away from society this week at the Will County Jail after she unsuccessfully tried to outrun Joliet Police Officer Jeremiah Eaton, according to court documents. But Nicole R. Henderson was not fast enough, so she's facing three criminal charges at the Will County Courthouse. Henderson's latest legal troubles trace back to Walmart, the store on West Jefferson Street that is the frequent target of thieves, but a store that has a strong track record of catching would-be- shoplifters in the act.

On June 3, Henderson was patronizing the Walmart at 2424 West Jefferson when she took "clothing from the shelves of Walmart and then returned those items for United States currency," court papers state. "Defendant is hereby placed on notice that it is the intent of the People of the State of Illinois to seek an enhanced Class 4 sentence based upon the defendant's prior conviction for theft in Will County," a 2013 case.

Besides a charge of retail theft and theft by deception, Henderson faces a third charge of obstructing a peace officer.

Henderson, court papers show, "knowingly obstructed the performance of Officer Jeremiah Eaton of an authorized act within his official capacity, being the arrest of Nicole Henderson ... in that the defendant ran after being told she was under arrest."

Henderson, who lives in the 2100 block of Greengold Street, was put in the Will County slammer around 9 p.m. Sunday. Her bail is $10,000. Four days later, she can't come up with the necessary $1,000, which is 10 percent, to post as bond.

In January, Henderson was busted by Joliet Police for trespassing on land. In March, she pleaded guilty to that offense. Her previous theft conviction from 2013, court records show, listed her as Nicole Kairis.

Mugshot of Nicole Henderson via Will County Sheriff