This is Ashley Meyer, 19, and trust me,
we'll be meeting her very soon.
>> [snorts]
>> On September 22nd, 2025,
Algonquin police were called to the
Kohl's on South Randall Road for a
retail theft in progress. Dispatch said
three people had just left the store
together. According to loss prevention,
one of them had tucked at least nine
beauty products into the waistband of
her pants and walked right past the
registers without paying. Total value,
about $270 before tax. But, here's where
things [music] get interesting. What do
you think officers found on the third
person? Well, watch what happened to
next.
>> Excuse me.
Where they at?
>> Where?
>> The retail theft.
>> I don't know.
>> Okay.
>> I wasn't here in the front part. That's
why I was in the back.
>> Okay. Thank you.
Hello.
>> What's up?
>> Who's a racist? Me?
>> Oh, not you. You just walked on the
scene. What do you mean?
>> Exactly. Did you shut up? Are you guys
waiting for
>> Yeah, I'm just waiting for the
paperwork.
>> trespass order.
>> Okay. Just hang out here.
Hello.
How can I help you guys?
Okay.
Hello.
>> Yeah, I'm actually going to add a third
one for you for her, but at least I get
these two out of here.
>> Do you mean
>> Ashley.
>> I feel like I've met you before. Have I?
>> You might cuz of my ex, Aiden Gathili.
>> Oh.
>> He's my ex for a reason.
>> You got bad taste.
>> He's He's the reason He's in King County
cuz he tried to kill me.
>> I'm sorry.
And I'm sorry this is happening, but
here we are. Are you okay? I see you're
shaking and stuff. Are you all right?
>> Cuz I'm pregnant. I just found out I was
pregnant today and I was [ __ ] to
even I haven't even been stealing
>> I'm just asking cuz I see you're
shaking, okay? So, if at any point
during this need medical attention for
whatever reason, just let us know, okay?
And
After
>> you take what?
>> Yes. So, where am I going? Am I going to
jail? Or am I
>> You're going to go back to the PD.
What's going to happen when you get that
product out? You're going to go back to
the police department. Okay? Have you
Have you gotten a conviction for retail
theft already?
>> Uh yeah.
>> From where?
>> Um Walmart in Crystal Lake.
>> Okay.
>> And it was a $50 thing. Um I stole It
was literally a ankle bracelet cuz I got
run over and I stole two vitamins
things.
>> Yeah, after he's done with this, we take
you back to the PD. We get you
processed.
Okay.
Are you still living out of McHenry?
>> Um no. I'm I'm kind of homeless at the
moment.
>> Okay. Do you have a car here?
>> No.
>> No. You're just here with your friends.
Okay.
>> So, I want to show you
She's got more stuff than just these two
items. She says she claims she left them
back behind, but I've never left my eyes
on her off camera.
>> 10-4. Thank you.
>> But did you check the shelves?
>> Hey. Hey. Hey.
>> Hey.
>> Hey.
Listen.
Okay. I I know you got a lot of stuff
going on right now, okay? And I can
sympathize with that, but
right now, there's nothing else to do
right now. We're not going to argue with
them. Do me a favor. Just don't argue
with us about anything. We're going to
try and get this done as quickly and as
simply as possible
and then we'll see where we go from
here. All right? But if you start
bickering and arguing with everybody and
whatnot. I'm not saying you're going to,
but I want to prevent that from
happening. Does that make sense?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
Let's just
relax for now.
Congratulations, I guess. Are you Are
you excited? A little bit?
Is it your first?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> That'll be my first baby.
>> Okay.
>> My mom actually sat me down at the
kitchen table last week and she was like
My mom's super Christian, right? And
she's like, "I have a feeling you're
pregnant." And I was like
And I'm 30 days late on my period and I
was like
>> Sometimes parents just know. And you'll
learn that at some point.
>> But
I don't know. I just keep getting right
close to my life and
>> Okay.
>> Today hopefully is the day that you
are changing things, right?
Like fixing things for your life.
Cuz you got a reason to now. Right?
>> Yeah.
>> I'm not saying you're a terrible person
or anything. None of us are thinking
that. It's just a matter of now we've
already gone so far. Now it's just we
have to do the steps that follow. Okay?
>> I'm going to take the items out.
>> You want me to step out? You want us to
turn around? What do you want us to do?
Oh, here it
>> We got a female officer here, okay? Just
hang out right here for a second.
>> We'll step out. She's got product in her
>> I don't want to be like all extra fancy.
I'll be like,
>> I broke my promise.
>> Huh?
>> I broke my promise.
>> All right, that's fine. There's another
retail theft. There was one earlier
today. You guys were here, right? Yeah,
but no Q just called out another one.
>> Oh.
Sweet.
No, I think they're Aren't they
transporting him?
>> And I thought Hunter was transporting
him and then Q just
>> Oh.
>> I I don't know.
>> I don't know either.
>> I'm just here.
>> He's talking to
>> He's the sergeant, man.
>> You look so familiar.
Did you What How old are
>> Me?
>> Yeah.
>> 24.
>> 24. What school did you go to?
>> What's that?
>> I don't know. I know you from somewhere,
I feel like.
>> Have you stolen from here before?
>> Huh?
>> Have you stolen from here before?
>> No.
>> I'm kidding you. Usually when people say
they know who any of us are,
>> Huh? No, I don't steal.
Look at my record. It's clean.
>> You would hope so.
>> from?
>> The city.
>> Like we doing.
>> You guys aren't the first one stealing
today.
Not you, but
>> Wait, dude. What's going to happen?
She going to get out tonight?
>> We don't know.
>> Yeah.
>> We don't know because it all depends on
like what comes back from her record. Um
normally if it was just simple that she
just stole from here and this is the
first time, then yeah, she'd get
processed and then released.
I don't know if she does or doesn't. So
then I'm assuming maybe she gets
released, maybe she doesn't. I I don't
know.
It depends on a few things. So for right
now I I would give you an answer.
For right now do me a favor, just hang
out here. Okay?
>> And I don't know if they're going to
have to any questions for you guys or if
they want you guys to just hang out. Um
>> They told us that we could.
>> I don't know. I don't know. I'll check
with them in a minute. But is Are you
guys
If she does get released today, would
you guys be the ones to pick her up?
>> up.
>> Okay. She has her phone with her?
>> Uh no, that's why we were here.
>> Where is the phone? You have it right
now?
Okay, why don't you give me that? Does
she have anything else with you guys
that she's going to need? Wallet or
anything like that? Just the phone?
>> Uh no.
>> You guys are good to go.
>> till we find out what happens with her.
>> We won't know until we get back to the
PD. So you guys can go to the PD and
hang out there until we're done. But I
am going to I am going to grab the purse
from your father.
>> Okay, got you. Okay.
>> Does she She said she wanted it? No, but
since it is her belongings and you guys
are here, I'm not saying
>> it's really not.
>> I'm not saying I'm not saying I don't
trust you guys or anything. I don't know
anything about either one of you.
>> Okay.
>> But since it is her stuff, I'd rather
her have her belongings
>> No, she told her boyfriend she told me I
could keep it.
>> I'm not going to just give y'all a purse
that is left in the car cuz
>> Does she have anything in there that she
needs? A wallet, ID, no medication or
anything like that? Okay, and you guys
are going to go to the PD?
>> Yeah, it's right over there by my
cousin's house.
>> Okay, then that's fine. You guys if you
guys want, you guys can hang out there.
We won't be there in for a little bit
cuz we're going to deal with whatever
we're dealing with.
>> you tell her that we're not leaving
here.
>> Just tell her that we'll be there for
her.
>> I will tell her.
>> Okay, thank you.
>> Yep.
I have her phone with me.
>> Okay.
>> Can I talk to them?
>> They just left. They're not leaving you.
They're going to the police station.
They're going to be waiting.
>> Okay.
>> They wanted me to tell you that. They
have your purse.
>> My phone.
>> I have your I have your phone here.
>> Okay.
>> All right. Um he said that your
boyfriend
>> Yeah.
>> He said that you don't have anything you
need immediately in your purse. Either
way, they're going to the station.
>> all just makeup or whatever.
>> Okay, which is why I just grabbed your
phone just in case.
>> Before What's the total?
>> She said 80.
>> I don't know if I'm happy to hear you
that or not.
>> My parents are both our felons first but
that's all.
>> I'm going to advise you to make smart
decisions. You're very young, right? So,
you have
>> Actually, I was on a pretty good track
until just now.
Swear.
I've been trying. I got a new man.
He's getting up for a car.
>> She's got a baby on the way.
>> Not going to play right now.
I'm at my first OB appointment in 2
weeks.
>> Your what?
>> My first OB.
>> Oh.
Is mom going to go with you?
>> No, my boyfriend is.
>> Is it his kid?
>> Or Aiden's.
>> Okay.
>> Swear.
I get so violent.
>> Just because
even if it is Aiden's, even if it is
Aiden's, let's make some smart choices
and still not go back to him. You do You
make your own decisions, but You make
your own decisions, but
>> know Aiden? Feel like every cop I talk
to knows him.
>> Yeah, for terrible reasons.
>> Yeah, so I actually and the reason why
he just got 72 making my car charges was
he like was driving around with me and
he was doing
all this stuff.
So, I said from my safety I reported it.
He threw me out of the car and punched
after I just crashed with my friend
>> that. I'm just Wow.
>> My friend was driving and then
I ran into his car and then he dumped me
in an alleyway and left me to die. So, I
made a police report and then 2 days
later he calls me. He's like, "I've
nowhere to stay and nothing." So, I got
him a hotel and then he got mad I took
my clothes back and he literally was on
top of me both hands. I'm punching him
in the head like and my friends jumped
in and I
>> Where was this
Where was this at?
>> At Super 8 in Elgin.
That's why he's in Kane County
and he hit my pregnant friend so he has
attempted murder charges that are just
pending.
>> Well.
>> I really nailed that [ __ ]
>> You asked You asked how we know him and
This is just multiple things that we
already knew about him anyways. And I'm
glad
Unfortunately, you had to learn in a
hard way though.
>> You know the drill?
First time?
>> No, it is first time's the charm.
I'm sorry guys, I'm literally just
kidding.
Am I going anywhere?
>> It's all right. It's just the way we
have to do it. So
>> All right. We'll go outside. I'll I'll
search out there, okay?
Pat you down.
>> I got it.
All right.
So he's going to do a pat down of you,
not an actual search, but he's got he
has to do a pat down of you.
>> My gloves on.
>> I got it. I got it.
>> So what happens? I just go to the police
department? You guys
>> So it all depends on your record, what
you have on there and everything.
>> I said my past, I have one.
>> I know. It all depends on what the
state's attorney wants to do with it and
where we go from there.
>> Wait, so am I staying? Where am I going
then?
>> So you're going with us right now to
Algonquin Police Department, right?
>> So like I explained to you, you're going
to get processed, okay? They're going to
get you your charges and everything.
Since you have priors, we don't know if
it's going to be I know it's the
misdemeanor charges, we don't know if
because you have priors, they want to
upgrade it to felony charges. I don't
know.
They have to talk to the state's
attorney and see where they're going to
go with it, okay?
>> Oh my god.
>> I I I know it sucks. I know it's a lot
of information for you to just process
right now, but for right now, there's
nothing else that we can do. It's just
we still have to take you, we still got
to process you, and then we'll see where
we go.
Okay? Does that make sense?
>> Yeah.
>> All right. Just sit tight. He's going to
take you to the PD and then they'll get
you going, all right?
>> How do I get a hold of Michael or
>> Well, Village going to be They're at the
right now, right? And I have your phone.
So, we will let you get phone calls and
all that stuff, but first we got to get
you over there. All right?
>> All right.
I don't know the full story, but
>> I don't either.
This is her phone. I came here after
everything.
Yeah.
>> At the end of it all, Ashley Meyer, 19
of McHenry, was arrested and charged
with one count of retail theft for
merchandise valued under $300. Because
this was her second retail theft offense
and she was already on court
supervision, the officer contacted the
McHenry County State's Attorney's Office
and asked for felony review. That
request was denied. At the station,
Meyer was read her Miranda rights,
signed the waiver, and told officers she
hadn't planned on stealing when she
walked into Kohl's. But once she was
inside, she decided to do it. All nine
items were recovered and returned to the
store. About 2 hours after her arrest,
she was released with a court date set
for October 29th.