By Bonnie Culverhouse

A Webster Parish resident was arrested Friday evening for attempting to steal items from a local discount store.

Andrea Parker Brown, 40, of the 300 block of Parish Road 116, was arrested by Minden Police Sgt. Jeremy Sitter and Minden Police Chief Jared McIver. She is charged with theft and possession of Buprenorphine, which is a schedule 3 narcotic.

McIver said he was at the store when he asked for assistance from Sgt. Sitter.

“Loss prevention supervisor said they had been following Brown around the store for an hour,” said the chief. “She was seen taking the tags off a pair of shoes and putting them on her feet to leave the store without paying. She was also seen concealing makeup, batteries and other merchandise inside her purse.”

McIver said Brown admitted post Miranda that she did conceal the items and intended to take them without paying.

“She also said she had a buggy full of merchandise in the back of the store and was deciding what to keep,” McIver said.

Brown was arrested and transported to MPD where a search of her purse reportedly revealed a small white pill with the number 54 411 inscribed on it. It was identified as Buprenorphine.

“Brown said she takes the pills to help with back pain and does not have a prescription for them,” said the chief.

According to the report, Brown has been arrested for theft 5 times since 2011.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.