IMPD officers stop suspected shoplifters, recover gun and cocaine

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers stop vehicle matching description that was used in recent thefts and make three arrests, remove a firearm and narcotics from the community.

On 04/06/2019 just after 4:45 p.m., officers from Northwest District IMPD were in the middle of investigating two recent shoplifting incidents – 4600 Lafayette Rd at a shoe store and 5100 W 38^th St at Beauty Supply Store. The suspect vehicle allegedly involved in both incidents was a white Chevy Impala. An officer saw a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle in the area of Moller Rd and Pike Plaza Rd. The officer stopped the vehicle in the 5300 block of Pike Plaza Rd and, with the assistance of additional officers, detained three females that were in the vehicle. The driver was identified as Marilisha Lewis (22), front seat passenger was Lakia Foster (20), and the rear seat passenger was Stormie Payne (23).

A district detective responded to the scene and conducted show-ups with witnesses in which Lewis, Lakia, and Payne were identified as the alleged suspects. During a search of the suspect vehicle, officers recovered a handgun and a small amount of cocaine.

Lewis was arrested on suspicion of Shoplifting (x2), possession of narcotics, and possession of a firearm. Payne and Foster were arrested on suspicion for shoplifting (x2). All three were later transported to the Marion County Jail. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case and make a charging decision.

Quick actions by the officer, thorough follow-up by the detective, and assistance from the community led to the arrest of three individuals responsible for victimizing two businesses, and the removal of an illegally-possessed firearm from the streets of Indianapolis. The IMPD would like to continue to encourage the community to get to know their officers that serve their neighborhood and work in conjunction with them to help reduce crime in Indianapolis.

Anyone with information about criminal activity is urged to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317.262.8477 or (TIPS).  Citizens can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to www.CrimeTips.org to submit a web tip. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000 if the information leads to a felony arrest.  Only tips submitted directly and anonymously to Crime Stoppers are eligible for these cash rewards.

A charge of a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.