Deputies find drugs on woman arrested for shoplifting

A Corbin woman, initially charged with shoplifting after Walmart loss prevention stopped her as she attempted to leave the store with just over $40 worth of items, was reportedly caught with drugs and cash as she was being escorted to jail.

Laurel County Sheriff John Root said the items 25-year-old Brittany Baker allegedly attempted to take from the store included: a pillow, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair coloring, a toe ring and an anklet.

Deputy Daniel Grigsby was called to the store in Corbin about 7 p.m. after Walmart loss prevention detained her after she allegedly passed through the self checkout without scanning and paying for all of the items she had selected.

As deputies completed the required paperwork at the sheriff’s office and prepared to escort Baker to the Laurel County Detention Center, Root said they noticed a bulge in her clothing, telling her that if she were attempting to bring drugs into the facility, she would face an additional charge.

“(Baker) admitted to having something and subsequently searched by a female deputy jailer where pills, meth, drug paraphernalia, and $580 cash was found in her possession,” Root said.

Baker was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence.

Baker is being held without bond in the detention center.