Shoplifting Leads to Stabbing and Wild Scene at Walmart's

December 28, 2009 1:02 PM

Richard Simms

It was a wild scene at the Gunbarrel Rd. Walmart Sunday evening as a suspected shoplifting incident led to a self-defense stabbing, according to a Chattanooga police spokesperson.

An off-duty Chattanooga police officer, shopping with his wife, came to the aid of a Walmart greeter who had detained a suspected shoplifter Sunday night. Police say Joseph Anthony Hill was trying to leave the Gunbarrel Rd. Walmart with more than $2,000 worth of merchandise.

It happened around 7:30 Sunday night. Officer Josh Wright was leaving the store with his wife when he says he saw Hill trying to force his way past the Walmart greeter with a shopping cart loaded with stolen TV’s and a computer.

A spokesperson says Officer Wright stepped in and identified himself as a Chattanooga Police Officer and displayed his badge. Hill looked at the badge and said it was fake and tried to get by Officer Wright. Officer Wright took Hill to the floor and placed him under arrest.

Lt. Kim Noorbergen says that within minutes of the arrest, the suspect's wife, Lisa Hill, began acting as if she was having a heart attack. She claimed she did not know Hill. However a witness said she had seen both Mr. and Mrs. Hill in the store together.

The witness then left the store. Police say Mrs. Hill followed the female witness to the parking lot, grabbed her by her hair, threw her to the ground and started hitting her.

That's when the witness got a pocket knife from her purse and stabbed Lisa Hill in the arm in self defense. Mrs. Hill was taken to the hospital with minor injuries where she was treated and released.

The witness who stabbed Mrs. Hill said did not want to prosecute and the surveillance video from Wal Mart confirmed her statements.

Joseph Anthony Hill is charged with Theft over $1,000 and Assualt on a Police Officer.

At this time no charges have been filed on Lisa Hill this part of the investigation is still open and charges are pending.