What were you buying for the department? >> Candy >> for what? >> Uh, it's a trunk or treats. >> Your uh department paid for that? >> Yes. They gave me $500. >> And you're telling me, just make sure it's clear because you had a family member died. >> Yes. >> You lost your keys, got flustered, and it was on unintentional. It was a mistake. Nothing was intentional. >> Yes, I am a detective. No, this is >> officers were called to a Walmart in Xolo, Arizona. The woman sitting in that patrol car isn't an ordinary shoplifting suspect. She's a detective sergeant with the White Mountain Apache Police Department, and she's on duty. And while she has an explanation for how everything went wrong, the officers responding to this call are about to discover there may be a lot more to this story than that one bad trip through Walmart. >> Um, every single item she got, she opened the tote, put it in, and closed it every single time. And then when she got to the front end, the only thing she purchased was the tote. >> One tote. >> One tote. The red tote that's in it. That's Oh, wait. If there's one tote, then she actually stole the tote, too. There's two totes. Um, and then she tried before she even bought the tote to she went to the GM exit, was stopped there by the doorhouse, went back, went to customer service, then she went to GM, then went back, purchased the tote, and then went through grocery. So, it's kind of where we're at right now. Every time she put something in the tote, she would close it again. So, open, close, >> close it, filled it up. Yep. And then I follow her up to the front end where the first time she went through a lane that we have that's just impulse items. There's no register. She went straight through and they tried to leave through uh GM. >> Bouncing around the store that many times is not exactly the pattern of someone calmly running errands. Loss prevention already had the whole route mapped out before officers even walked in. >> Um she tried to go through GM again, was stopped again. Then she went back to the grocery side selfch checkckout. Right. >> She purchased the one tote and then left out the grocery side. >> Okay. >> And you physically followed her around? >> I physically followed her around. >> Do you have her on camera, too? >> Uh yeah, I have uh part of it on it'll all be on camera, but I have part of it tracking. >> Okay. So, you'll be able to put it together for me. >> Okay. >> I'm getting stuff for PD for >> So, I was going to ask the lady at the front if she cares keys and stuff. And there's excuse number one, lost keys. It's a completely believable everyday reason to be distracted in a store. It's also the first of several different explanations she's going to give before this stop is over. >> Okay. >> Do you have your weapon on you? >> No, I took it off. >> Okay. >> So, is that all personal stuff on you? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. We're done here then. So, I'm going to take you out. Professional courtesy. I'm not putting you in handcuffs, but we're going to take you to your car, put you in back. I'm going to take your bag and just make sure you have nothing on you. Okay. Fair enough. and then we'll we'll chat down at the P. Okay. She's got a patrol car here. And Melissa, you said you you didn't have your duty weapon on or anything like that stuff. Okay. All right. Just making sure. Just making sure. So you >> Yeah, she was she was So yeah. So So that's why I was like, let's double check with Miles and he can get that cuz she was trying to claim that she was going to go intercept somebody at the front to watch her car so she can go back out to her car cuz she can't find her feet. >> She's definitely in the back. >> Exactly. So, make sure that we get that stuff. >> At this point, the officers know they are not dealing with an ordinary suspect. They're standing in front of a fellow law enforcement officer. And for the first time in her career, she's experiencing the very process she spent years putting other people through. >> No, no, no. I think we'll be fine. I think uh we'll just double check with Miles and just make sure that he gets the video of her concealing and passing points of sale without talking to an employee. >> Okay. My reader writes, "You have the right to remain sign anything you say it can." and will be used against you in court law. You have right presence of attorney with you and assist you prior to question and be with you during question if you so desire. If you cannot afford attorney, you had right to have one appointed you prior to question. Do you understand these rights? >> Okay, so what happened here? >> Just be straight with me. I mean, we all make mistakes. >> I'm looking for my keys. >> She's still focused on the missing keys. It's the same explanation she's already given. But as the investigation continues, officers are about to compare that story against everything they've already been told and everything they believe the surveillance footage shows. >> Okay. >> So, what ended up happening was I went over I'm supposed to get two totes. So, I ended up grabbing one tote and I put some stuff in there and then I got a phone call. >> Okay. So, somebody was letting me know we had a family member pass away this morning. >> Okay. So, I was just getting ready to leave, but I thought I could go to the front and ask for my keys. See if anybody brought them back. Okay. >> The only unit keys that I have. So, I went over. I asked the guy if anybody turned in any keys. He told me to go to customer service. I wanted the totes cuz I need to get candy for the department. And then I was going to put the other stuff in that tote for it's my personal stuff that I'm going to buy for for today. So, I couldn't fit the other tote in there cuz there's two lids. There's only one tote. Right. I pay for the tote. >> Individually, each explanation sounds reasonable. The problem is that investigators aren't evaluating each detail on its own. They're comparing every part of her story to what loss prevention watched in real time and to what they believe the surveillance cameras captured throughout the store. And as those two versions begin to collide, officers are left with one important question. Do her actions match her explanation? Okay. So, a few questions I have is um so the tote you have, how come you were putting it aside and then putting the lid on it? >> Cuz I'm going to fit another tote in there with candy if that makes any sense. It just fits side by side. >> So, they're trunk or treat. When is it? >> Uh we have one the 13th and the 10th and then I have the 10th or the 17th, the 24th, and then the 29th and the 31st. >> So, is this your uh department pay for that? >> Yes, they gave me $500. >> So, you have 500 cash on you right now? Uh, no. I was just going to use my card and then they >> Your bank card. Yes. >> So, do you have any cash on you now? >> Uh, just 100 bucks. >> Is that personal or city money? >> That's my personal money. >> Your large personal? >> Yeah. >> $500 issued specifically for trunk or treat candy, which is going to become its own entire subplot once loss prevention shares their side of the story. Wait, you're watching an actual sworn police officer get mirandized on her own department's body cam and you're not subscribed yet? Go ahead and smash that subscribe button right now because wait until you hear how many different stories she gives before this is over. >> Hey, real quick question. I was uh talking to the officer and when you went through there, you did pay for one of the totes. How come you only pay for one and none of the stuff in there? >> Well, cuz I was I was like I said, I got a phone call. I was I was flustered. >> That's kind of odd, man, that she only paid for one. That's the That's the thing that I'm I'm like I could see I can see mistakes, but >> one thing is mistakes. But first, she tells me she got caught as she's walking out. I said, "Well, then that'll make sense." So, >> yeah, I'm thinking, >> yeah, I'm thinking we're still probably going to move forward, but I guess it's worth just taking the extra step just to confirm, but that's weird. Yeah. >> As the officers compare notes, they begin noticing something else. Parts of her explanation no longer match what she told them just moments earlier. On its own, a small inconsistency might not mean much. But when those inconsistencies start stacking up alongside witness statements and surveillance footage, they become much harder to ignore. >> She takes out a bunch of stuff. She keeps putting one item until it closes the lid. Yep. One item until it closes the lid. She went to a door hose, went to customer service. At no point did she leave the cart or attempt to leave the merchandise. >> Yep. >> She has the tote staged in the cart. She goes up to the selfch checkout, scans the tote. >> Scans one tote. >> Yes. just get takes the receipt. Grabs an empty Walmart bag and then proceeds right past everything outdoors. >> That's what we were thinking. At first she was trying to say that she got some phone call and she forgot. But I'm like >> she's like then I just had to go out to I'm like, "Why would you buy one tote though and not buy anything, you know?" Sorry about that. >> No, it's okay. It's good though. I get what you're saying. >> Most importantly, she never abandoned the merchandise or attempted to separate herself from the cart regardless of the fact her keys were missing. And then >> was there any candy items? >> No. >> That didn't make sense cuz then she said she came to buy candy for the PD. The only thing the only thing she scanned was >> Yeah. Then she claimed she only came here to buy candy for the PD for a trick or treat cuz now this is trickor treat. The 10 13 she's just trying to play on her emotions. >> It was like she when she comes up to the selfch checkout it's like >> with all this a little bit further. She takes the little scanner. She just reaches in, scans the tote, >> just the one, >> pays for that, and then immediately >> So, oh, she has one tote, but two lids. >> The candy for the department was the reason for this whole trip, according to her. And the actual receipt shows zero candy purchased. That's the whole cover story falling apart right there. >> So, that sounds kind of intentional then, too. >> To open the toe to scan any, >> but she made an effort to put it all in there and close it. >> I saw her putting one item in and then closing with you. >> Yeah. Everything I've seen obviously obviously I just work in Walmart but everything I've seen she was super nervous and I recognize her and I swear I've seen her on camera. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Let us know too if you do see anything else because I think if she wants to continue to lie about it we also charge her false reporting like yeah because that's the reason why lie at this point came up here and that's my issue is >> yeah her doing this makes all of us look bad. It's kind of BS. So, I was just telling her my thought process is we go back just rein her after seeing the video and hearing there and just tell her, "Listen, you need to tell me the truth." >> As the discussion continues, the officers become increasingly frustrated with the inconsistencies in her statements. From their perspective, the evidence has already painted a clear picture. And what seems to bother them just as much is that they believe her actions are reflecting badly on all officers. Quick, I'm going tell you after going in there, went to a video and saw the video on that and I actually seen where you know each time going through there concealing items and then you Why did you grab an extra Walmart bag when you checked out? >> Oh, did I? >> Yeah. And your bag, you got a bunch of empty Walmart bags. >> Those are those are for poop for uh my Belgian melon. So I >> So you keep them when you buy but you don't recall grabbing one today? >> I usually just grab one and I use it to pick up the dog poop. >> Let me hear why you're leaving. Why would you grab one if you didn't need a bag? Well, and then initially you told me you came here because the trunk or treat Well, none of the stuff you had with you were nothing but candy or nothing like that. >> Well, yeah. So, I was going to do my stuff and then come through and get the candy stuff cuz it's it's really heavy to carry in a tote. >> This is where the investigation becomes much more direct. The officers stop asking general questions and begin confronting her with specific details they believe are captured on surveillance. The other officer went in there, watched the video, all your interactions, everything you did, and it it doesn't appear that nothing would happen accidentally today. >> Well, I I asked if they could help me find my keys. I asked if anybody had left keys. I don't know if you've asked and talked. >> Yeah. Well, no, I did. I point that they brought up the fact that every time when you went towards extra, you put the phone up like you're on the phone, then you put it back down. And so, >> no, I hung up the call. So, I told my mom. >> Okay. Fold. Cuz I'm here, new here from Phoenix. you know, one straightforward that then we side release. If not, then we just book in. So, that's why I'm saying the video's here. The other officers reviewed it and said that's why I'm ask you be honest. You were both officers. So, >> yes. No, that was not my intention. >> So, you never had attention. You're saying it's fully accidental. >> The officers have already formed an opinion based on the evidence they've gathered. Now, they're giving her one final opportunity to explain her side before the case moves to the next stage. >> Attention, you're saying it's fully accidental. >> Yes. But you do agree that you did pass a point of purchase when you walked out. >> That the rest are over there. >> I know. But that lady, like I said, she always I thought she walked all the way down putting a shopping cart. I was looking for her. Okay. >> And that's when they stopped me. >> I hear what you're saying, but the fact is how you know the points of purchase. >> I was just going to go ahead and see if she would take my cart so I could check the parking lot for my keys because >> I can't find my keys. >> Right. You could have just left it in middle store cuz you didn't pay for it. >> Yeah, you're right. >> So it wouldn't have mattered at that point. And then second, the only thing I have heartburn about is too when you said, you know, cuz you're going to have her watch your cart. Well, why have her watch your cart if you took the time to scan one tote, but you didn't scan nothing else. >> By now, the interview isn't really about what happened anymore. It's about the decisions that followed. If finding her keys was the priority, nothing prevented her from leaving the unpaid merchandise behind and returning later. Just like I said, in my mind I was thinking she passed away from a heart attack. So in my She's only 40. >> Who is that? >> Karina. >> Who is that to you though? >> Katrina. She's a family friend. >> So a family friend passed out a heart attack. And when were you notified of this? >> I got my phone. I don't >> I'm just just estimating. When were you notified? >> Earlier. Correct. You said earlier. >> Yes. I was It was in here, >> right? >> When I got the call. >> Right. So you're saying so you didn't get you didn't you weren't aware of that her dying until you got in Walmart? >> Yes. >> Even the death story gets its own inconsistency when exactly the call comes in keeps moving around depending on which officer she is speaking to. >> So she's saying that person dying back but originally she told me cuz reason she get the trunk of tree stuff. Yeah cuz she said she didn't get the trunk of tree stuff because of Kea. Now she's saying she didn't get cuz of people dead. She was going to leave. Well, now and so if she told you literally while we're standing here, well, she was going to come out then go back in and get the truck and leave it there for years. >> Oh, but now we're going to do it tomorrow. >> Yeah, because Yeah, cuz that's she changed it twice. I mean, yeah. >> So, that's why the beginning she told me the whole reason why she's going to get her keys and then go there and then pay for the items and get the trunk of tree stuff cuz she didn't get her items first. Then she told me after she get that person died. She was going to wait till tomorrow and get them. >> So, Ari keeps changing now. So, yeah. >> Can I do you mind if I jump in? She's already memorized. >> Individually, each explanation could make sense. But when investigators try to fit them into a single timeline, they struggle to make the pieces line up. >> Ward. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Sure. So, here's the situation, right? Obviously, you know why we're over here? >> Yes, I do. >> Yep. Yep. >> What kind of animals do you have at home? >> I have dogs. >> Dogs? How many? >> Uh, eight. >> That's quite a few. What kind? >> Uh, Belgian Malinoa and Yorkies. >> Okay. So, why were the items inside of the tote? >> Like I said, I have two separate totes. I was going to do one for the candy and then one for my personal stuff. I was on my way home. >> Mhm. So, why were the items inside of the tote, though? >> Notice the shift in tactics here. A completely fresh officer with a softer delivery who opens with small talk about her dogs, then shifts to the exact same questions everyone's already asked. And she offers the same shaky responses >> to make room. I wasn't like I said, you can fit two totes side by side in the cart. >> But there weren't two totes in the cart. No, I guess I >> And when were you going to get the candy then? >> Um, I was going to get them probably around the same time. I was going around to make Candy usually melts. I didn't want to put it in my car right away. >> So, I was just going to get it on my way out >> or come back in. >> Okay, >> I guess that makes sense. >> Which one do you think makes sense? >> Well, like I said, I would normally put the totes side by side so they fit in there so I can lift the tote in there cuz one of them is usually the heaviest. It's the candy. So, you went to selfch checkout. >> It might sound like a minor detail, but in an investigation built on timelines, surveillance footage, and physical evidence, one small inconsistency matters. >> Then you tried to leave the store. >> Yes. >> And you got confronted by asset protection. >> Yeah. I was trying to go to talk to that lady to see if she can hold my card. >> Mhm. >> I was looking for my keys. >> Honest looking for my keys. >> But here's the deal. You did a crime today. >> I know it doesn't look good. >> No, it's illegal. It's not that it doesn't look good. It's It's shoplifting this. >> That was not my intention. >> I'm not asking you what your intention was. >> I know. I got >> I'm not saying when you got here you planned to steal stuff. >> No. >> The only thing left is deciding what happens next. >> At any point you could have left your property. Right. Now, you're a certified peace officer, correct? >> Yes. >> If I lost my keys, what are the keys for? >> My car. My unit. >> Yeah. So, if I lost my keys for my unit, I would leave my merchandise and go find it because it's kind of important. Especially you said your weapons in there, correct? >> Yes. >> So why go through selfch checkckout, purchase the tote, and then try to leave the store? >> This is the exact question that exposes the whole problem with her story. A trained officer whose entire job is knowing what to prioritize in an emergency. Failed that very step when she opted to pay for a single item, the tote, instead of leaving everything behind to find the keys to her patrol car. >> Just need to be We just need to be on the level. That's it. We're done. We're done playing games. It's not to take I wasn't trying to take anything honest. >> Okay. My intention was not to steal anything. >> Okay. That's not what's happening at all. >> They watch you close the lid on the tote after every time you put something in there. They've been they've been watching you. I watched the surveillance video. You look like a thief. I'm going to be honest with you. You look like a shoplifter on the video. I've watched a lot of shoplifterss on video. Right. So, I mean, we dealing probable cause, right? What's probable? Let me ask you. You have this call right now. Take your profession out of it. What's probable? >> Evidence that you've got. >> She nailed it with that response. Officers weren't going off hearsay. They were looking at the evidence. >> The problem is this, right? The problem is that >> she's given us seven different stories about what she was doing and how she was trying to get that accomplished. and but and asset protection washed her load a tote with personal items one item at a time. Close the lid every time. >> She had ample opportunities to stop and leave her cart with someone. >> Yeah. >> She decided instead to purchase only the tote that was full of the items and then attempt to leave the store without stopping to talk to anybody. The supervisor and make sure it was okay. He say it's okay if you want to see the video so that way you understand what we're dealing with. >> Yeah. >> Hey, can can you show us that video again real quick? Um, so I I'm pretty sure I found her doing it. >> I think I found her doing it again. >> Oh, he did found her. >> Did you catch that last statement? Up to this point, this whole video is one shoplifting stop with a shaky explanation attached. What loss prevention introduces next flips that on a dime. >> This is the transaction um of the can >> candy. Let's put it a little bit closer earlier. already got candy. This was on the 30th. The last day. >> Yeah. >> So, there's also going to be some personal items down there like dog food >> and she puts the tote of candy on top of the dog food >> and doesn't pay for it. >> I got to backtrack and make sure there's no chance that she could have paid for it, but like it's at the bottom of the the basket. She covers it up with a heavy tote of candy. >> So, this is on the 30th, correct? >> This is on the 30th. >> So, there's the to without the lid. >> Okay. So, she's filling all in. >> She puts it in the back. pushes it to back. >> At this point, they're no longer looking at a single encounter. They're looking at what could be a much larger historical shoplifting problem. And if it is, the stakes become far greater than anyone initially expected. >> Um, that's just Walmart's perspective with this one. If it you do confirm that that wasn't paid for, you guys wanted to move forward with that one as well then. >> Oh, with with the other two. There's another one. Um, I this one's going to take a lot longer. >> So, you found another one, too? >> Yeah. So, I found another one. >> Hold on. This one's the the most concerning cuz I got to make sure that she didn't pay for any of this stuff. Like I said, I don't want to say anything out of turn, but >> she has a tote with a bunch of stuff around it. >> One of my suits actually does her job for once and takes the tote the top of the tote off and sees all the stuff. Yeah, just wait for it. >> Holy cow. >> Yeah, there's Lego sets on Lego sets on Lego sets. I can't get an associate. Can I >> told you being honest straight with me and I'm I'm going to be straight with you right now. >> Okay. >> So, after loss preventionist saw you this little time, he found two other days where you're filling it with the toys, filling the other one with candy. So, if it if it's truly those three, then they want to book you in for a felony for the value in that cuz the one with all the toys that you didn't pay for the other time when you came in. So they have three videos they're pulling right now and it's showing the attendance and that's why I asked you to be honest. Just give me give you opportunity. So just be forthcoming. I we're human. We make mistakes and did you do it or not? I mean that's why I said it doesn't look good. Especially you being officer if you're lying to me but straight. I made a mistake. I did this. Tell me. That's all I'm asking you. >> The offer is genuinely simple at this point. Be straight now or let three separate surveillance videos do the talking. Whatever she says next is going to matter a lot more than anything she said so far. Just >> No, I wasn't I wasn't trying to take anything today. >> Today? No. >> But you have in the past? >> Yes. >> Okay. That's it. I tell him to be honest with me cuz that's the worst thing is when I see those videos and then you're telling me today, you know what I mean? >> So, in the past you did, but today was truly an accident. >> Okay. >> Fair enough. I appreciate that. Okay. And that's why I'm trying to work with you. That's I just don't own handcuffs. I'm not doing that. I would expect you to do the same to me if you dealt with me. >> Okay. >> Yes. So, hang tight. That's why I'm going to keep him posted as we go. >> Thank you for your >> And there it is. The first genuine admission. She's done this before. Sitting right next to a Today was an accident claim that's carrying a lot less weight after everything officers just found. >> What were you thinking? I mean, I don't understand. Why would you put your career online for something foolish like this? You know what I mean? It's not It's not worth it. just it was >> I thought it was just candy thing. >> No, it was a few other things. I I don't I just briefly saw it. >> Uh and that's why you the chief your supervisor that was there. She was in there saw those videos as well. He said, you know, I'm going to review it. >> Make sure cuz obviously he's not going to say you did something if he didn't or we don't want to charge you with something. And he even told me he didn't even know you were an officer today when he stopped you. That small detail that the officer who initially stopped her didn't even know she was law enforcement matters a lot more than it might seem. This wasn't recognition or special targeting. This was a completely ordinary shoplifting stop that just happened to involve a badge. When I talked to you, you said you have when I told you when they reviewing a video, >> but you're making it sound like I shoplifted like stuff from the store. I thought stuck in bubble. So, I'm thinking the the bags. You're making a big deal out of the bags. >> The bags? >> Yeah. Like I I took a I took a Walmart back. Sorry. >> Oh, no, no, no. I was saying when I came back and when I told you about being honest that they pulled up the videos where there's >> like I'm like I said, I'm I'm trying to recap recap what happened. >> What I took? >> There's a real shift here from admitting to a pattern to trying to reframe the whole conversation as being about a couple of plastic bags. It's a much smaller story than the one three surveillance videos are telling. >> When I find out, I'll let you know. and your supervisor got the supposed to get the other set of keys >> and I'm supposed to let her know >> it's just a key fob. >> What started as a single shoplifting incident quickly exposed allegations that Melissa Ward, a detective sergeant with the White Mountain Apache Police Department, was actually a serial shoplifter. After reviewing just a small window of her previous visits, Walmart Loss Prevention uncovered additional surveillance footage showing Melissa allegedly stealing roughly $1,200 in merchandise and cash across seven different incidents over a 3-month period. In the end, Melissa Ward was indicted on eight felony counts of shoplifting and four counts of fraudulent schemes. She pleaded not guilty on March 5th, 2026 and was released on her own recgnizance. She was also ordered to stay out of Walmart locations while the case remains pending. 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