Lusby Woman and Man Steal Merchandise from Walgreens, Each Charged with Four Crimes After Being Confrontational with Police

On January 18, 2018, Dfc. Hardesty of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the Lusby Walgreens store on Rousby Hall Road for a reported theft in progress with the suspects still in the store. Upon arrival, Hardesty was met by an employee who stated he would call the manager. The employee advised Hardesty to walk down aisle 10 to see the manager. While walking down aisle 10, Hardesty observed a female with a large quantity of items in her hands wearing a white shirt and pink shoes, matching the description of the suspect.

Hardesty also observed a male hidden behind the large shelves at the rear of the store. Hardesty approached both suspects and instructed the female to start walking back towards him, but she proceeded to slowly walk away.

At that time, the manager came out the swinging door that leads to the offices. The manager proceeded to stand by while Dfc. Hardesty contacted the subjects about the suspected theft in progress. The female was identified as Hannah Logan Paige Withem, 22, of Lusby, and the male as Michael Edwin Swearingen, 26, of Lusby.

Hardesty confronted Withem and asked her what she had and she advised that she was placing products inside the large storage container to help her carry the items. She also advised that she wasn’t sure if she was going to buy the items. While standing there speaking with both subjects, Hardesty observed items, later identified as Cajun mix foods, bulging in the front right pant pocket of Swearingen’s pants.

After speaking with the suspects, Hardesty told the store manager that it appeared as though the suspects were in fact concealing items inside the store with the intent to steal the items. The manager informed Hardesty that to deter people from stealing, they get on the building intercom and announce a security check. According to the manager, Swearingen walked down the aisle and gave the security camera the middle finger upon hearing the intercom announcement.

While Withem was concealing items, Swearingen attempted to prevent the camera from seeing what was happening, according to the manager. The manager was very reluctant to press charges and simply wanted the suspects banned from the store and the property returned.

Hardesty then returned to contact both suspects, informing them that they would take all property that did not belong to them and place it into the cart, at which time they would be escorted out of the property to the police cruiser. Withem placed the items that she had into the cart and grabbed the large blue purse that was in the upper part of the shopping cart. The purse was concealed by a grey jacket, leaving Hardesty was unable to see inside. Hardesty asked Withem several times if there were any other items in her possession and if there was anything in her purse. She informed Hardesty that there were no more products.

Hardesty then had her put the purse down and lifted the jacket up from the purse and observed a large quantity of items inside the purse that belonged to Walgreens and were still in the product packaging. When Hardesty asked her about it, she stated she forgot the items were in there and she even advised him that she had recently purchased several items but didn’t have the receipt.

At that time, Hardesty placed both Withem and Swearingen into handcuffs and advised them they were both under arrest. As the suspects were escorted to the front of the store, Hardesty informed Dfc. Burgraff of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, who was also on the scene, to stop at the front and conduct the search at the register. During the search of Swearingen, two packs of Q-tips, a pack of Cajun mix, a Hershey’s candy bar, and a bottle of Michael Kors cologne were recovered and valued at $57.93.

Sixty items of make-up and hygiene products totaling $516.92 were found on Withem.

During the search and discussion at the front of the business near the registers, both subjects continuously used profanity and obscenities despite repeated warnings to stop cursing.

While standing at the front of the business, one of the employees gave the officers a box of make-up and stated, “this was empty, it may be concealed on [Hannah Withem].” Dfc. Hardesty then turned to Withem and asked her if she had anything concealed on her, to which she immediately replied, “No, would you like to check my [expletive]? Here, I will pull my pants down!”

At that time, Withem turned and pulled her pants down, exposing her entire lower half of her body. She became increasingly confrontational even sarcastically stated, “Would you like to check my [expletive] (breasts)?”

Dfc. Hardesty then told Withem that he was going to talk to the manager again. As Hardesty walked away, Withem called him a “dumb***.”

Due to the disobedience of the suspects, Dfc. Hardesty placed both of them in his cruiser while gathering more information. Upon returning to his cruiser, Hardesty transported Hannah Withem to the Calvert County Detention Center while a Maryland State Trooper transported Michael Swearingen behind him.

Hannah Withem and Michael Swearingen were each charged separately for the following crimes: theft from $100 to $1,500, theft under $100, disorderly conduct, and failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order. A $5,000 bond was posted for Withem on January 19, 2018, while a $10,000 bond was posted for Swearingen on the same date. Both defendants are awaiting trial on March 23, 2018 at the Calvert County District Court.

This entry was posted on January 25, 2018 at 5:02 pm and is filed under All News, Calvert News, County, Law Enforcement, Top News, z 600X120 Top Ad Bottom, z Police Ad Top. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.