Upon arrival, Sgt. Windels met with Asset Protection Investigator (API) Ryan Snorek who reported that a female had shoplifted a Ninja Slushi machine on two separate occasions. On October 15, 2025, at approximately 12:09pm, API Snorek, while watching the self-checkout CCTV, observed a female, later identified as JANIECIA SHARELL NICHOLS, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, with a cart of merchandise including a Ninja Slushi on the bottom of her cart. The female scanned the items in her cart but did not scan the Slushi, valued at $299.00. When the self-checkout host pointed out that she had not scanned the Slushi, she said she was going to return it but that she forgot the receipt at home.
She showed him a Walmart “Thank You” sticker on it, which typically signifies that the item has already been paid for. Based on her statements and the sticker, he did not require she pay for the item. When asked again by the door host for a receipt for that item, she provided the same story. A review of surveillance video confirmed the defendant did not enter the store with the Ninja Slushi. The transaction receipt confirmed the defendant did not pay for the Slushi. On October 28, 2025, at approximately 7:20pm API Snorek observed the defendant in the store again.
Further observation revealed she had another Ninja Slushi, now on sale for $269.00, in the bottom of her cart. API Snorek observed the defendant entered the self-checkout area and did not scan the Slushi. She paid for items but not the Slushi. The defendant entered a black Dodge Journey, MN plate HCC526, parked in a marked handicapped parking spot, despite not showing a license plate marked as handicapped nor a handicap sign hanging from the rear-view mirror. Surveillance video footage confirmed the defendant did not enter the store with the Ninja Slushi.
The transaction receipt confirmed the defendant did not pay for the Slushi. The anticipated restitution request from Walmart is the total of the two losses, $568.00. Detective Evan Patullo later made contact with the defendant who admitted to the incidents and stated she was going through a hard time. The defendant’s criminal history shows several theft-related convictions on her record - most recently, a Felony Theft conviction on July 18, 2024, out of Hennepin County Court File No. 27-CR-24-1917. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn.
Stat. 609.49, intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
