Shoplifting Suspects in Elk Grove Get Aggressive by Threatening, Assaulting Retail Employee

October 30, 2017 |  

Elk Grove Police responded to three alleged shoplifting incident in the last three days where store employees were either threatened or assaulted.

On Friday, October 27 police were dispatched to the Party City store on Laguna Boulevard after an unknown suspect described as a white male adult who threatened a story employee with a pepper spray. The suspect was not detained after the employee did not pursue him.

The suspect was described as a white male adult in his 40s wearing a baseball cap, white t-shirt, and blue jeans. He was last seen leaving the area in a white vehicle being driven by an unknown female.

The second incident happened on Saturday, October 28 at the Hobby Lobby on East Stockton Boulevard. When the unknown female suspect was approached by a store employee, she allegedly pushed and shoved the employee. 

The suspect was described as a black female adult, 5'5", 140 to 150 lbs., and wearing maroon leggings and pink shoes. She was last seen entering a white SUV that was driven by an unknown female. 

The final incident resulted in the arrest of James Earl Vale, 45, of Sacramento at the Safeway on Laguna Boulevard. When employees attempted to detain Vale for shoplifting, he allegedly punched the employee in the face. 

Vale fled the store but was located and arrested by Elk Grove Police. The suspect is in custody in the county jail on a $1 million bail and is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday, October 31.