A woman’s visit to Union went from bad to worse when an arrest for shoplifting turned into a drug bust.

Andrea Brooke Russ, 26, 331 Edgewater Road, Woodruff, is charged by the Union Public Safety Department with shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance.

An officer was dispatched Tuesday afternoon to a store at 513 North Duncan Bypass in response to a report of a possible shoplifter. The officer met with the store’s loss prevention officer who said he observed a woman later identified as Russ in the tool department. She selected two pairs of work gloves and two Stanley tape measures. He said she then concealed all the items in her purse, walked past all the cash registers and then out of the store. Russ was stopped in the parking lot and all the items were recovered.

After the officer placed her under arrest, the report states he found an unlabeled pill bottle containing nine small blue pills in Russ’s purse. He asked her what type of pills they were and she said Valiums. The officer then asked Russ if the pills were hers and she said they were not.

The total value of the items Russ is accused of taking is $63.35. Since the items were recovered intact they can be resold and the the report states the store is not seeking restitution.

Russ was transported to the Union County Jail where she remained as of Friday morning.

The officer later contacted Wallace Thomson Hospital to confirm that the pills taken from Russ’ purse were Valiums. The hospital confirmed that they were.

Arrests

The following persons were arrested by the public safety department:

Willie Salter, 54, 311 Columbus St., Union, charged Wednesday with disorderly conduct.

Ronald Eugene Palmer, 37, 101B Washington St., Union, charged Thursday with assault and battery.

Joshua Andrew Addis, 35, 309 Catawba St., Union, charged Wednesday with disorderly conduct.

Mandarion Lamar Smith, 24,103 Blassingame St., Union, charged Wednesday with shoplifting.

Drew Philipp Sanders, 31, 1029 Gaffney Highway, Jonesville, charged Wednesday with disorderly conduct.

Charles Wesley McClain, 31, 302 Toluca St., Union, charged Wednesday with disorderly conduct.

The following persons were arrested by the sheriff’s office:

Porsha Sharday Gage, 18, Rose Hill Garden Apt. 4B, Union, charged Wednesday with three counts of forgery.

Felicia Renee Jeter, 20, 191 Minnow Bridge Road, Union, charged Wednesday with forgery.

Harold Dean Sinclair III, 17, 116 Old Shetley Place, Union, charged Thursday with consumption of beer by an underage person.

Terry Lee Thompson, 1410 Pineland Road, Union, charged Tuesday with public drunk.

Christopher Duane Briggs, 22, 212 Francis Avenue, Union, charged Jan. 17 with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.