Active Warrants, Walmart Theft And Suspected Xanax: Prince Frederick Woman Faces Multiple Charges

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — A Prince Frederick woman is facing multiple criminal charges after Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputies alleged she attempted to steal more than $680 worth of merchandise from Walmart, resisted arrest and was later found carrying pills deputies believed to be alprazolam (Xanax) without a prescription during the same incident, according to court records and charging documents.

Sommer Lee West, 41, of Prince Frederick, has been charged in two separate criminal cases filed in the District Court for Calvert County on July 8.

West is charged with theft between $100 and under $1,500 and resisting/interfering with arrest. In a separate case stemming from the same incident, West is charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis.

According to the statement of probable cause, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 12:48 p.m. July 8 to the Walmart located at 150 N. Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick for a report of a shoplifting incident.

A Walmart loss prevention employee told deputies West had been inside the store since approximately 7:30 a.m. and was observed moving between self-checkout registers. Although she purchased some merchandise, store employees alleged she still had a fully loaded shopping cart containing unpaid merchandise when she attempted to leave the store.

Investigators said the employee stopped West inside the vestibule.

Charging documents state deputies attempted to place West into handcuffs after arriving on the scene. According to the report, West refused repeated commands to place her hands behind her back and allegedly pulled away several times as deputies attempted to arrest her. Deputies reported that after additional commands failed, another deputy helped gain control of West’s arms before she was placed into handcuffs and escorted to a patrol vehicle.

Following the arrest, deputies searched West and allegedly discovered a carton of cigarettes containing multiple pieces of jewelry concealed inside. Investigators also recovered an ELF Halo Glow Powder product and additional jewelry from her pocket.

Deputies later documented the merchandise with Walmart loss prevention personnel, who identified numerous unpaid items allegedly concealed by West. According to charging documents, the merchandise included clothing, hygiene products, makeup, jewelry, and other merchandise.

Court documents state West had also placed the shoes she was allegedly wearing into a Walmart shopping bag after changing into a different pair inside the store.

The total value of the allegedly stolen merchandise was listed at $682.01, according to investigators.

The arrest also led deputies to open a separate criminal investigation after evidence discovered during a search of West’s belongings resulted in an additional charge. A separate probable cause statement details an additional criminal investigation stemming from the same arrest.

According to court documents, deputies searched West’s purse and located a plastic prescription bottle labeled for cannabis. Inside the bottle, investigators reported finding four yellow pills.

Based on his training and experience in drug identification, Deputy C. Mister believed the pills to be alprazolam, or Xanax, a Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance.

Authorities stated West did not possess a prescription for alprazolam. Court records indicate deputies used a prescription pill identifier, which indicated the tablets appeared to be alprazolam (Xanax).

After being advised of her Miranda rights, investigators said West acknowledged she previously had a prescription for alprazolam but no longer possessed one.

Deputies seized the pills as evidence and submitted them for laboratory testing.

Court documents further state deputies learned during the investigation that West had two active warrants and a criminal summons before transporting her to the Calvert County Detention Center, where she was served with the outstanding paperwork.

Court records show West was arrested on July 8 and later appeared for a bail review on July 9 before Judge Michelle R. Saunders, who ordered her held without bond. Her trial is scheduled for Aug. 24 in Calvert District Court.

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