A Chillicothe woman has been arrested after allegedly stealing $50 from a disabled woman outside the Valero gas station on North Bridge Street. The incident, which occurred on November 26, 2024, is still under investigation, according to the Chillicothe Police Department.
The victim, told officers that she was walking along the sidewalk near the Valero car wash section when she was approached by a woman and a man. The woman, described as having ratty or dreaded dyed hair, allegedly asked her for a dollar. As she reached for her wallet, the woman snatched it from her hand and removed $50 in cash. The suspect then threw the wallet back at her and the two suspects fled behind the gas station before running across North Bridge Street.
While speaking with police, the victim, who has Huntington’s disease, provided a statement and requested criminal charges against the suspects. Police reviewed surveillance footage from the gas station, which showed the two suspects running behind the store before crossing the street and heading west. The female suspect was described as having medium build, wearing a brown jacket and an orange shirt, and possibly sporting purple-dyed hair. The male suspect was described as wearing baggy jeans, a white jacket, and a black-and-white checkered shirt.
Despite efforts to locate the suspects, officers were unable to find them at the time. However, on November 27, a Valero employee and a customer helped identify the female suspect as Shelli Johnson. The witness stated that he had witnessed the suspects running past him during the incident but did not want to get involved further.
Later that day, officers located Johnson in a homeless camp behind the dog park, where she was detained. Johnson admitted to being near the Valero but claimed that she had been the victim, stating that she had taken $20 from her and that she had simply retrieved her money by taking her wallet. Johnson also acknowledged that she ran from the scene because her companion, “Jason,” had a warrant out for his arrest. When asked why she didn’t report the theft if she was the victim, Johnson did not provide a clear answer but insisted that she was in the right.
Johnson was arrested on charges of theft, a fifth-degree felony, for stealing from a disabled person. She was taken to the Ross County Jail, where she remains in custody. The victim, later confirmed that Johnson was indeed the woman who had stolen her money after viewing her mugshot.
Shelli Johnson is scheduled for a court appearance on December 2, 2024, in Chillicothe Municipal Court. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Additional Arrests in Homeless Camp
During the arrest of Shelli Johnson, two other individuals were also detained on unrelated warrants, authorities said.
The case has since been forwarded to the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office for further action.
