MASON CITY – A scary man from out west along with his female companion allegedly attempted a theft Thursday at Mills Fleet Farm, but police arrived to stop the alleged criminals from escaping.
On February 23, 2017, at about 4:06 PM, Mason City police officers were dispatched to Mills Fleet Farm, located at 3200 4th Street SW, on the report that store loss prevention officers were attempting to detain a male and a female for shoplifting. While officers were en-route, dispatch received a second call from loss prevention stating that the male had pulled a gun out in the parking lot.
When officers arrived on scene, they found the male, 41-year-old Shannon Alton Winters of Rivertown, Wyoming, waving around a can of pepper spray and took him into custody. Winters had a machete and a BB pistol in the waistband of his pants and a hypodermic needle in his pocket. Officers also detained the female, 36-year-old Mishia Jo Oldaker of Casper, Wyoming.
During the investigation, it was found that the couple had concealed merchandise with a value of $356.22 on their persons and left past the last point of sale without attempting to pay for the concealed merchandise. When loss prevention officers and a Mason City Police Investigator attempted to detain the couple, the male pulled out the can of pepper spray and pointed it at all of them. Police say that at no time did Winters spray the pepper spray or pull the BB pistol or machete out of his waistband.
Winters was charged with Robbery 1st Degree, a class B Felony; Theft Detection Devices, a Serious Misdemeanor; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor. Winters was also held on a Parole Revocation Warrant out of Wyoming reference Aggravated Robbery.
Oldaker was charged with Theft 4th Degree, a Serious Misdemeanor.
Both remain jailed at this time.
