As Douglas police officers were heading out for patrol on December 16, a corporal mentioned that they needed to be on the lookout for Jennifer Hodnett, 42, of Douglas, who was wanted for allegedly shoplifting at Circle K on the south end of town.
Around 9 p.m. that night, an officer saw Hodnett and another individual identified as Derick Smith in the area of Highway 221 North and Bowens Mill Road Southeast. Both were riding bicycles and they were riding on the wrong side of the road, according to an incident report from the Douglas Police Department.
The officer stopped Hodnett and Smith with the intention of arresting Hodnett on the shoplifting charge. However, as the officer searched Hodnett, she found several small bags of suspected methamphetamine stuffed inside her shirt. When the officer discovered the bags, the report states that Hodnett told Smith, “They found them.”
Hodnett was arrested and charged with theft by shoplifting and possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance. She was taken to the Coffee County Jail where she remains. Smith was not arrested.