Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

Four Suspects Apprehended in Multi-Store Shoplifting Operation at Tanger Outlets

Date Posted: Saturday, October 7th, 2023

News Release text with State Police vehicle in the background

Delaware State Police arrested 33-year-old Monica Parks, 58-year-old Samuel Jones, 24-year-old Ja’ni Lewis, and 36-year-old Calvin Schoolfield, all of Salisbury, Maryland, following a shoplifting investigation on Thursday afternoon.

On October 5, 2023, at approximately 5:17 p.m., troopers responded to the Coach Outlet at 34986 Midway Outlet Drive in Rehoboth Beach for a shoplifting incident. The caller reported that four individuals, three black males and one black female, had stolen items from the store and fled in a white Ford Expedition with a Vermont registration. In addition, the caller provided descriptions of their clothing. Troopers checked the area and found the white Ford Expedition parked in front of the Nike Factory Store at 36698 Bayside Outlet Drive. The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Jones, Lewis, and Schoolfield through their Maryland driver’s licenses. Parks was also located nearby and identified.

Troopers reviewed video surveillance and were able to identify all four individuals as the suspects involved in the shoplifting incident at Coach. After a consent search of the vehicle, troopers located shoplifting tools in addition to over $1500 in stolen merchandise from Coach, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret/PINK, and Bath & Body Works. The suspects were unable to produce any receipts for the merchandise. A computer check also showed Lewis was wanted in Maryland for traffic offenses.

Parks, Jones, Lewis, and Schoolfield were taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 7, where they were charged with the following crimes:

Monica Parks:

Monica Parks mugshot photo

Possession of Shoplifters Tools (Felony)
Shoplifting Over $1500 from Three or More Separate Mercantile Establishments (Felony)
Conspiracy 2^nd Degree (Felony)
Shoplifting Under $1500 – 4 counts

Parks was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on her own recognizance.

Samuel Jones:

Samuel Jones mugshot photo

Possession of Shoplifters Tools (Felony)
Shoplifting Over $1500 from Three or More Separate Mercantile Establishments (Felony)
Conspiracy 2^nd Degree (Felony)
Shoplifting Under $1500 – 4 counts

Jones was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on a $2300 unsecured bond.

Ja’ni Lewis:

Ja'ni Lewis mugshot photo

Possession of Shoplifters Tools (Felony)
Shoplifting Over $1500 from Three or More Separate Mercantile Establishments (Felony)
Conspiracy 2^nd Degree (Felony)
Shoplifting Under $1500 – 4 counts
Fugitive from Another State

Lewis was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on a $6,500 unsecured bond.

Calvin Schoolfield:

Calvin Schoolfield mugshot photo

Possession of Shoplifters Tools (Felony)
Shoplifting Over $1500 from Three or More Separate Mercantile Establishments (Felony)
Conspiracy 2^nd Degree (Felony)
Shoplifting Under $1500 – 4 counts

Schoolfield was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on his own recognizance.