Brick Teen Punched Walmart Officer, Charged With Robbery: Police

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township teen has been charged with robbery after she punched a Walmart loss prevention officer in the face Friday, police said. The officer had confronted her and a second girl trying to walk out with items they had not paid for, Brick police said.

Kiana A. Craig, 18, is being held in the Ocean County Jail on the robbery charge. The second girl, who is a juvenile, was arrested and processed and released to a guardian, Brick Sgt. Jim Kelly said.

Police were called to Walmart about 4 p.m. Friday. Walmart loss prevention officers told police that two girls were trying to leave the store with merchandise they had not paid for. When an officer confronted them, one girl, later identified as Craig, punched him in the face twice with her fist. A second loss prevention officer saw what was happening and tried to intervene, but the two girls ran, leaving the merchandise behind, Kelly said.

Patrolman Brian Ulman was responding to the call when he saw a vehicle that matched the one described by the Walmart officers. He pulled it over and began questioning the occupants, while Patrolman Mark Catalina arrived as his backup. The occupants, one of whom was identified as Craig, began arguing with Ulman and Catalina.

The investigation revealed that Craig and a juvenile girl in the vehicle matched the description of the robbery suspects and were arrested, Kelly said.

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