Duluth detectives have broadened their search for a pepper-spraying shoplifter to Florida and other states.
Tipsters have identified Kahala Johnson as the suspected shoplifter who made an escape from a Duluth Walmart last Thursday by pepper spraying a store employee.
Johnson is from Jacksonville, Fla., and has trolled Gwinnett stores in the past, said Duluth Det. Bobby Johnson. She has seven other pending shoplifting charges from June 30 to Aug. 1 in Gwinnett as well as other charges, according to the county court website.
The pepper-spray tactic appears to have some popularity among the shoplifting class. A search of newspaper articles from the last few months, shows shoplifters using the non-lethal chemical in Missouri, Ohio, New Jersey and Maryland.
Asked if Johnson was suspected of using pepper spray as an escape tactic in the past, Johnson said:
“I’m not sure about her habits of pepper spraying at this time. I do know in July when she was arrested by Gwinnett County she was charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer, leading me to believe she may be a violent individual.”
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