Stoneham Police Searching for Woman Accused of Assault, Theft at Marshalls [PHOTOS]

are searching for a woman accused of stealing merchandise and assaulting a loss prevention officer at Monday night.

About 6 p.m. June 11, police responded to Marshalls at Redstone Shopping Center for a report of a shoplifter who punched a female loss prevention officer in the face upon being stopped at the exit., according to an email to Stoneham Patch from Detective Christopher Dalis. 

"The female suspect then threw a liquid in the (loss prevention) officer's face stating, 'I can’t go back to jail!' and fled the area on foot," wrote Dalis. "Witnesses observed the female suspect cross Main (Street) fleeing up Marie (Avenue) toward the woods at the end of the street."

Police issued a be-on-the-lookout alert to regional police departments, and they also requested a K9 team but there wasn't one available, according to Dalis. Officers searched for the suspect for about an hour, but she could not be located, police said.

The suspect allegedly stole more than $100 in merchandise from the store, according to the detective.

The suspect is described as a white female, 5-foot-6, medium build, mid-20s with shoulder-length black hair, according to Dalis. The suspect also had a large rose tattoo on her right arm, he added. 

Surveillance images of the suspect can be viewed in our photo gallery.

Police believe the woman is local, and anyone with information can contact Detective Christopher Dalis at 781-438-1215 ext. 3133.