Lakewood woman charged in connection with shoplifting brawl

Accused of smuggling a pair of slacks out of a Lakewood shop, and of punching out the manager who demanded them back, a township woman ends up in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.

Samantha Johnson, 30, faces a second-degree charge of robbery in connection with the February 19 shoplifting incident at Solar Fashion, and with the fracas that ensued outside. She was apprehended February 23.

According to township police, Officer Vincent Whitman arrived at about 4:30 PM and was told of a woman who removed the pants from a rack, stuffed them under her sweatshirt, and walked out.

The manager followed the suspect to the street and confronted her, only to get punched in the face hard enough to send her eyeglasses flying off her face, to the pavement.

Police said that while the manager tried to find her glasses, the suspect began pulling her hair, the slacks fell from beneath her sweatshirt, and the ran off.

Detective Chase Messer developed information leading to Johnson's identification. She was ordered detained, without bail.

Charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until, found guilty in a court of law.