She said that you're not going to get away. You didn't hear the playback cuz they got people looking for you. They just need to suck that up. She said she kind of forward. She what? On October 23rd, 2025, O'Fallon police responded to a retail theft call at a local home store in Illinois. Two women loaded baby shower merchandise into carts and exited without paying. One fled by vehicle immediately, leaving her companion stranded on scene without a phone or ID. She left with the [ __ ] My friend just ran out the store with the with the stuff and then left me outside. And I don't have nothing. I don't have I didn't steal nothing. I don't have nothing and they're not trying to give me nothing. Y'all can lock me up. Y'all can look at the cameras. I didn't walk out the store with nothing. So, who's your friend and where is she at? >> I can't even call her. They won't give my phone so I can call her. They took my phone. They took everything from me. I don't even have my purse. >> But, who's your friend? Her name Well, I don't know. I can't call her. I cannot call her. She lives >> Let's go inside. The lady is there worried. Like, if she see I didn't walk out the store with nothing. Okay. I don't know where she went. The manager was here. Do you She keep on running from me. I don't know why why the manager manager is running from me. Like, she got my stuff on her. I don't even care about what she's doing. Why is she like following me? This don't even make no sense. How the [ __ ] I'm going to get locked up for something I didn't do? Okay. Do you guys have her phone? We do. I found it in the parking lot. Okay. Can you give it to her so she can call her friend who left? Yeah. It's in there. We found it on the parking lot after they had ran off. >> Okay. Do you have video of her taking stuff out of the store, too? They're by LP's pulling but I have them loading up the car. Okay. Okay. And I saw her. I said, "You need to bring it back." She said, "No." And then she She literally told me she's taking it out the car. I'm not taking you with me. Get out the car. You're going to tell on me. Okay. So, she needs to get back here. Where does Where does she stay at? I don't know. You know where she stays at? >> I know, but she stays somewhere in Florissant. I don't know her exact address. Okay. I got We don't even live out here. Do you? Yeah. Can you get that for me? Is your ID out of Illinois or Missouri? Missouri. All right. Cuz we literally about to check out and she said, "No, just keep on going." Like Oh. Go and call her. Okay. Yeah, we'll need it a a statement from you guys about what happened and all that kind of stuff. Go and call her. Don't text her. I'm calling her right now. Okay. Yeah. Hello. In the store still. Oh, cuz I'm going to go to jail. Tell her she needs to come back here so we can figure it out. If she has the merchandise, it's not that big of a deal. Okay. >> She said, "All you have to do is drop it off. You don't It's not even a big of a deal. Just drop it off somewhere. Anywhere." >> No, back here. She's got She has to come back here. >> Why she got to come back here? Because she has to. I got to get her contact information, all that kind of stuff. You guys are going to be banned from the store. Okay? >> all? Are you going to go to jail? No, as of right now, no. Okay. As of right now, she just needs to come back here with the merchandise and you guys are going to be banned from the store. Okay? She said that just come back so we can be banned from the store store. I mean I need to get her information. Okay. So, it I mean it's going to take a few minutes, but What she say? He said he just needs your contact information so he can ban you ban I mean ban us from the store cuz he needs the stuff back. As as long as she still has the merchandise. >> As long as you still have it. If she doesn't have the merchandise, then that's going to be a different story. She said she threw it out the window. Tell her she needs to come back. So So, here's the other thing, okay? If she doesn't want to come back here, we have officers looking for her car right now and she'll get pulled over and pulled out of the car at gunpoint. I don't think she wants that to happen. Okay? We have license plate readers. They read all over the area. Okay? She needs to just come back here, get this taken care of. Do you hear me? No. I said I can't hear you. We have her license plate. We know where she lives. Like, it's it's She's not going to get away. So, she needs to just come back here. >> She said that she's not going to get away. You didn't hear the playback cuz they got people looking for you. They just need to suck that up. If she doesn't come back, she's going to make it a lot worse on herself. She said, "What if they pull her over on the way there?" Well, then she's going to get pulled over. I mean, I don't But, that's that's why I would I would highly suggest she comes back here so that that doesn't happen. Okay? She said she kind of forward. She what? >> Kind of forward. I don't care. The detention of the remaining subject was lawful. Under Terry versus Ohio, 392 US 1 1968, a loss prevention witness identification provides sufficient reasonable articulable suspicion to detain. No Miranda warning was required at this stage. Under Berkemer versus McCarty, 468 US 420 1984, Miranda applies only upon formal arrest, not during an investigative Terry stop. All voluntary statements obtained here are admissible. She Well, we will show up at her house. We have her license plate. >> know where she live? We have her license plate. He said I mean, he said we have her license plate. We have her license plate. Huh? Yeah. And if she doesn't come back, she's going to get you in the more trouble. All right? Because then you'll be harboring a fugitive at this that that that point. >> a fugitive? Yeah, if if she doesn't come back, I mean, that's that's kind of the name of the game. So, you need to get your friend here. Otherwise, you're going to be in worse trouble. Okay? And the lady pocketed Yeah, she had said I mean, he had said that if you don't come back, then I'm being harbored harboring a fugitive. Is that a felony or something? It It depends on how much she stole. If she doesn't return it if if her act was a felony Uh-huh. and and you don't help us make contact with her I'm trying to help you. Well, I understand that. But, if if she won't work with you Can she have somebody else drop it off? No, she has to come back here. We have to make contact with her. He said can't nobody else drop it off. They need to contact the two of you. I said if they do All right. Don't Don't hang up the phone cuz I need I need to get her information, too. I need her name. >> Cuz she She's trying to call her mom right now. No. >> Can she call her mom? No. She needs because she just committed a crime. >> She just wanted to go away. I forgot it. I'm on it. Just put me on hold or something and call your mom. Put it on Put it on speakerphone cuz I want to talk to her. Ma'am, what's your name? She on hold. I told her that she was going to call her mom. I don't have her ID. How old is she? Eighteen. What's her address? I don't I just told her she just lives in Florissant. I don't know her actual address. She didn't have to tell you. Where did she pick you up at? >> My house. How much stuff was it that you guys took out? Just a basket. Just a basket of stuff? >> a basket. Like an actual basket. Just a basket. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And a polar bear. And a polar bear. Okay. How much was that worth? I don't know. I don't know. Okay. So, call her back. I don't want >> with her still. Oh, you're still on the phone with her? >> Yeah, I'm just on hold, I think. So, in Illinois, if retail theft is under $300, it's a misdemeanor, which means you get a ticket and you leave. You don't even go to jail. All right? I don't even have to put you in handcuffs. >> Okay. Okay? But, so I'm assuming a basket and a bowl polar bear It was like literally It was like a basket like this big and it just had like snowflakes and stuff. Like, Christmas stuff. It had Christmas stuff in it. And a polar bear. But, we need we need to get her here to get that figured out. >> I know. I'm trying to figure out what's going on. I'm still on hold. Okay. And I'm going to need a statement from somebody on just like you guys attempted to stop them or anything like that. >> allowed to attempt to stop them. >> Which most places aren't, but I just need some kind of written statement about what happened. That'd be awesome. We're going to go out to my car, okay? So, I'm going to have you sitting back in my car for right now. Okay? All right. Call her back. Cuz I just need I don't want to have to have my guys out looking for for a ticket, a misdemeanor retail theft. All right? Like, I'm at the most. Like I said, they just they want you trespassed, but at at most, it's going to be a a ticket and you guys get to leave. Okay. But, >> She said I mean, he said he just want to give us a ticket so we can leave. No. Can you put her on speaker so I can explain to her what's going on? You want me to put you on speakerphone? Okay. He He Okay. He want to talk to you. Ma'am? Yeah. Hey Hey, so Okay. That's fine. So, here's here's what I need, okay? I need you to just come back here. All right? They want you guys trespassed. At the very most, if if you don't have the merchandise with you still, you're going to get a misdemeanor citation. You're not going to jail or anything like that, okay? But, I need to get it taken care of. I really don't want to have to put a bolo on your car because then you're going to get stopped. You're going to get pulled out of the car at gunpoint. Your car is going to get towed. All that kind of stuff. I would rather you just come back here. Let me write you a ticket and you guys are going to be on your way. Okay? Mhm. So, can you please do that for me so that we don't have to have our officers out all out looking for you? Yes. Okay. Where are you at right now? On my way on the way back to my house right now. You're on the highway? Good. What? 64? Are you on 64? Ma'am? Ma'am, can you hear me? Hello. Yes, I don't have her her location on my cuz she stopped sharing. I don't know her like that. I just met her off Instagram like a couple months ago. Can you show me her Instagram real quick? >> Does she have green hair right now? What color is her hair right now? All right, what show me her page. Okay. All right, do me a favor and call her again cuz I need to know where she's at. I need to know if she's actually coming up here or not. If she's not, then I'm going to send out a bolo to St. Louis police and they're going to find her. We'll be on the lookout and they're going to show up at her house and they're going to take her into custody until we get her. I'm I don't have time to play games. We got other stuff going on. All he said is he's really coming. Where's Where's she at? He said where you at. She said she on the highway but she know she on the highway. Where? Like How How far did she make it out? Like are you still out here? Why she putting you on hold? >> I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if she's trying to call her mama or have her mama meet her up here. I don't know. But I don't even live out here. Like I don't even know how to Well, hopefully she comes back and she gives you a ride home. Yeah, my bad. I thought cuz I called her I didn't know it was I I knew it was but I just can't hurt anything. I don't know. It's 1:40. Who does that 28 return to? No, because I don't have nothing to hide. I just want to go home. Like I didn't even I didn't come with her. I came here with her cuz I came with her. Did Did you have money with you with the intention of buying stuff? >> Yeah, no. It's It's her baby shower. So we was coming here for her. Like to buy stuff for her. And we was in the check We was literally going to the checkout line and she was she was like, "Babe, come on." I was like, "What are you asking?" This is just too much. I'm like, "Do you want to go home?" She was like, "I do want to." What's her phone number? Your friend. The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time. All right, you want to call her again? It went straight voicemail for you, too? Hello. Hi, this is Officer Lewis with the O'Fallon Police Department. Are you Am? No. Okay, can I get your name real quick, ma'am? No. Okay, so where is at right now? Ma'am, we have your address, we have your phone numbers, all that kind of stuff. I really don't want her to have to be in handcuffs in the back seat of a police car. If she returns to the store where she stole from, all right, why don't you start calling for her ride? The person That's just what I saw on the cashier. I haven't seen her in a while. Perfect. >> And then so the my boss sent me pictures of them like walking out of the store. She said that she get a digital like CD sent to your email on a later date. The subscriber you are trying Are you bringing her back here or are you cutting her at the scene? Well, I'm I'm hoping to cut her here. The other girl is supposed to come back here but she's not going to come back here. So [clears throat] I'm trying to get a name for her because I don't have a name and she just knows her by I know her by Amaya Hamilton. Amaya? Amaya. Okay. Did she have blonde hair? She said she did have blonde hair over the summer. >> Okay, so then it's going to be the uh it's going to be this She is wanted by St. Louis County or by somebody. Yeah, that's the reason that's the reason she took off today is she gets got She's wanted out of multiple warrants for extradition and that's the reason she took off today. The fleeing subject identified as Amaya Hamilton was already wanted on multiple Missouri warrants with extradition holds. Under Illinois versus Wardlow, 528 US 119 2000, unprovoked flight from police is a valid factor in establishing probable cause for future stops. Her flight was not panic. It was calculation. I know I got a sister named Amaya. Well, that's you, though. No, it's not. That has got to be you. Did you give your sister's name? Yeah. She's playing something out like my identical twin. So but you didn't tell me your last name was Hamilton. >> My last name not Hamilton. So how are you twins but different last names? Well, I'll tell you right now. What's this What's the girl you're talking to now? What's the name she gave you? Who's returning no record out of Missouri. Uh-oh. What she say her last name is Hamilton? The the uh other one that you had is Hamilton, Amaya Hamilton. Girl, I think she's playing Who's playing who? Don't she know or not she got another charge? Uh well, she doesn't but she does now. You can give them a bad name. Yeah, she don't even have a warrant. I I told you I don't have a warrant. So why'd you lie about your name? >> scared cuz I thought y'all was going to take me to jail. Cuz of what she did. Like you know. Well, so I I literally turned myself But now you Now you could. You probably need to cancel your Uber cuz yeah, we're going to have to go down to the station, book you in, all that kind of stuff cuz girl, you're lying about your name. All right? No, you're going to get You're still going to get out but your Uber's going to pick you up at the police department now. Do you have an approximate dollar value on what she took? >> I don't know. No, I mean I didn't see exactly what was all in the cart. I know the one big bear alone is like $300 or something but I didn't couldn't see like you've seen the pictures on items that you know for sure were stolen? Can you just give me a price on it cuz it's going to determine whether it's a felony or a misdemeanor. >> Yeah, I mean And I I have the other subject identified now. Okay. So and I know where she lives so we'll we'll get her in custody as well but >> other lady that kind of seen and we'll see if we can put >> Yeah, yeah, just any kind of receipt. Thank you. Thank you. All right, so how much did you guys really steal? I don't know. It was It was like a basket and a polar bear. >> they have two carts full. Yeah, no. a cart full of stuff and she's pushing a cart full of >> like the cart it had like a basket in it. Like the cart but it had a basket in it. Okay. And then hers had just bears and like polar bears. Okay. So because here Here's going to be the problem. >> Yeah. I went I just went in there there and asked the price of They said the bear by itself, I guess the big bear that she took, it's over $300. I don't know but I didn't have a bear. I didn't My bear didn't even have anything. >> I get you but that's I mean I'm going to get charged for everything? No, so you're you're both going to get charged for it but So they're supposed to send me a receipt to determine whether it was a felony or a misdemeanor. I I don't need a felony on my record. I know you don't. All right, so here. So you just got to bring me back? I mean at this point we're past that. That's what I was trying to do. I was trying to get you guys out of this with just being trespassed. If you would have just come back, it wouldn't have been a huge deal but Okay. I I feel bad for you. I honestly do feel bad for you cuz you got screwed by your friend. I know. I thought I So you didn't have any money or anything like that to buy stuff? I wasn't going Illinois statute 720 ILCS 5/16-25 draws a hard line theft under $300 is a class A misdemeanor. At $300 or above it becomes a class 3 felony, 2 to 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The store's confirmed total $1,117.75 firmly in felony territory. Under 720 ILCS 5/5-2 the Illinois accountability statute a person who aids or assists in the commission of an offense bears equal criminal liability as the principal actor. Subject A's participation in loading the cart is sufficient to support a felony charge regardless of who physically removed the merchandise. When confronted subject A provided her sister's name rather than her own. Under 720 ILCS 5/31-4.5, providing a false name to a peace officer during a lawful stop constitutes obstruction of identification, a class A misdemeanor. She had no active warrants. It added a second charge with no upside. Officer Lewis receives a B+. He accurately stated the felony threshold in real time, pursued de-escalation in good faith, and used adaptive investigative techniques within lawful bounds. One deduction invoking harboring a fugitive as pressure against subject A was legally tenuous under 720 ILCS 5/31-5, which requires knowing concealment, not merely failing to compel an associate's return. Subject A receives a C. She cooperated, did not flee, and assisted in identifying the suspect. However, providing a false name when she had no warrant was a self-inflicted error that converted a single charge into two. Cooperation followed by deception is not a sound legal strategy. Amaya Hamilton receives an F. She orchestrated the theft, abandoned her companion, refused multiple opportunities to return voluntarily, and carried active warrants into the situation. Every decision she made increased criminal exposure for both parties. The key lesson voluntary cooperation with police does not waive your right to remain silent. Subject A could have lawfully declined to answer questions beyond confirming her identity. Once she began speaking, every admission became evidence. Under the Fifth Amendment, silence is a right, not a sign of guilt. Uh Second, a false name is never a neutral act. Illinois law treats it as a stand-alone criminal offense. If you have no warrant and no contraband, your true identity is your strongest asset in a police encounter. Giving a false name transforms a witness into a defendant. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic that you would like us to discuss in the comments below. Thank you for watching.