The two women who were caught on video trashing a 7-Eleven after employees accused them of shoplifting have been identified by Philadelphia police.
Lashae Whitaker, 20, and Tiera Brown, 28, were at the 7-Eleven in the 5000 block of Frankford Avenue when employees of the store locked them inside.
Police said an employee claimed to have caught the women shoplifting on September 30.
So when Whitaker and Brown returned to the store on October 1, an employee locked them inside and called police.
Lashae Whitaker (left), 20, and Tiera Brown (right), 28, were at the 7-Eleven in the 5000 block of Frankford Avenue when employees of the store locked them inside
In the video that was taken from outside of the store, the women can be heard yelling at the employees who were blocking the door.
It’s unclear if they knew why they were being held captive, but Brown can be heard saying: ‘I’ve got kids. I’ve got to go. I’ve never done nothing to y’all.’
Meanwhile, Whitaker is seen violently kicking the door twice in an attempt to get out.
As the confrontation continues, you can hear someone yelling repeatedly: ‘You can’t leave!’
Whitaker then runs around the store knocking merchandise off shelves.
At one point, Whitaker can be seen fighting with a male employee.
Men outside the store can be heard cheering for the women to fight with the employees.
Police said an employee claimed to have caught the women shoplifting on September 30. So when Whitaker and Brown (pictured) returned to the store on October 1, an employee locked them inside and called police
Whitaker starts to fight with a man who does not appear to be an employee. She then starts taking things off the shelves and hurls them at the man and the employees
She then starts fighting with a man in the store who doesn’t appear to be an employee.
The women plead with the employee standing in front of the door as one of the men outside says: ‘Let them out, man, this is America. The cops ain’t coming.’
But when a police officer arrives, the door is unlocked and Whitaker tries to walk out but the officer pushes her back into the store.
She then yells and tries to hit the cop, who then puts her in a headlock and tackles her to the floor as Brown attempts to intervene.
Whitaker is eventually handcuffed and walked out of the store. Brown was also taken into custody.
At least four more officers arrived on the scene.
A police officer shows up (left) and stops the woman from leaving. When he tries to cuff her she tries to hit him and they start to brawl (right)
The officer slams the woman to the ground but she fights back
The other woman tries to intervene as the officer pins her friend to the ground
Brown has since been released, but she faces charges that include simple assault, reckless endangerment, and making terroristic threats.
Whitaker remained in custody on Thursday at Riverside Correctional Facility, according to court records.
She faces charges that include attempted arson, causing a catastrophe, and inciting a riot. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Whitaker’s lawyer, Max Kramer, told The Inquirer that police used unnecessary force to subdue his client.
‘He manhandles her. You can’t see everything that’s going on,’ Kramer said. ‘The cops and my client get into this scuffle. The cop floors her and he, like, slams her to the ground.’
Brown’s attorney, David Walker, agreed with Kramer that the store employees were wrong. They pointed out that neither woman faces theft charges.
Whitaker remained in custody on Thursday at Riverside Correctional Facility, according to court records. More officers were seen in the video arriving to the scene. Whitaker was then handcuffed and taken out the store
Brown’s attorney, David Walker, agreed with Kramer that the store employees were wrong. They pointed out that neither woman faces theft charges. Whitaker is seen being escorted out the store by an officer