LAKEWOOD - A 30-year-old township woman is accused of punching a clothing store owner in the face while trying to steal a pair of pants, police said.
Samantha Johnson, 30, of Lakewood. (Ocean County Jail)
Police say Samantha Johnson walked into Solar fash on Ocean Avenue, which is a woman's clothing store, around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 and put a pair of black pants from a clothing rack under her sweatshirt.
Johnson then walked out of the store without paying, police said. The owner watched Johnson put the pants under her sweatshirt and followed her outside, police said.
After the owner had demanded Johnson return the pants, Johnson hit the owner in the face, knocking her glasses to the ground, police said. While trying to find her glasses on the ground, Johnson pulled and grabbed the owner's hair, police said.
The pants fell out of Johnson's sweatshirt as she was pulling the owner's hair, police said. Johnson then ran away from the store, police said.
Johnson was arrested Thursday and is charged with robbery. She was taken to the Ocean County Jail where she remains as of Monday, according to jail records.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.