Clearlake >> One woman has been arrested and another is at-large as of Tuesday following a reported theft at Rite Aid in Clearlake.
Clearlake police were called in at around 1:30 p.m. on Friday to respond to a robbery at the Olympic Avenue pharmacy.
According to detective Ryan Peterson, store employees reported that a woman identified as Sheri Ellars, 51, had just stolen items from the store. When she left, they followed her out telling her to return the merchandise.
The Clearlake resident reportedly ignored the employees and got into a van driven by another woman, later identified as Samantha Sandhoff, 36.
While Sandhoff was later taken into custody, officers continue to search for Ellars.
Employees told police that the rear van window was missing and could clearly see both suspects as they continued to yell at Ellars.
Sandhoff looked back, then began backing up the van. While looking at the store employees, she struck one of them who had to jump away to prevent being completely run over and then sped out of the parking lot, according to Peterson’s report. Evidence collected at the scene clearly showed Sandhoff looking at the employee who she hit with the vehicle.
Sandhoff later contacted the Clearlake Police Department (CPD). Officers located her at her home on the 13700 block of Arrowhead Road. She was interviewed by officer Jared Nixon and admitted to being the driver of the van during the incident, Peterson said.
Sandhoff reportedly denied any involvement in the theft or the fact that she hit the employee with the van. She said she did not know about the theft until after she had left Rite Aid with Ellars.
Based on the investigation, Nixon placed Sandhoff under arrest. She remains at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and faces charges of the violations of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.
She was additionally charged with possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and the illegal possession of prescription medication after Nixon reportedly found numerous controlled substance paraphernalia and numerous prescription dosage units of Trazadone, for which Sandhoff did not have a prescription.
Her bail is set at $150,000.
Ellars is currently outstanding and is being sought by the CPD in connection to this investigation. Anyone with information in regard to the whereabouts of Ellars or information in regard to this investigation is asked to contact Nixon at (707) 994-8251.
