Salt Lake City cops: Biting shoplifter ends up with felony counts

Salt Lake City police say a simple shoplifting case turned into a lot more — when the suspect chomped down on the hand of a store employee trying to stop her.

The incident occurred about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday when the 19-year-old woman allegedly was spotted concealing on her person several items at the Family Dollar Store, 477 N. 300 West. When she attempted to leave the store, an employee confronted and attempted to restrain her.

The suspect fought the employee, knocking over a store display, and then bit the worker on the wrist.

Police called to the scene arrested her. The woman was booked into Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of third-degree felony retail theft (she had two prior shoplifting convictions), third-degree felony robbery, and a class A misdemeanor count of giving false information to a police officer.

She remained behind bars Thursday in lieu of $1,850 bail.

The employee was treated at the scene for the bite wound and released.

remims@sltrib.com