Woman arrested for alleged crime at Walmart in Tumwater

A 25-year-old woman was arrested in connection with a burglary at Walmart in Tumwater.

A Tumwater Police Department report states Ashley Gimbert, of Yelm, entered the store on the afternoon of Sept. 2 and was seen allegedly concealing items in a duffel bag before leaving without paying. Store staff reported the incident.

Responding officers searched the surrounding area after arriving at the scene, but could not locate the alleged culprit.

 Later in the day, an officer located Gimbert at a bus stop, but she quickly ran away and was not arrested.

The suspect left a duffel bag behind. The bag contained Lego boxes, clothing and personal items, the report states. The merchandise was returned to Walmart. 

On Sept. 3, officers located Gimbert near a bus stop at Capitol Boulevard S. Police reported that she once again attempted to run from authorities. but was taken into custody after a short pursuit.  

During the arrest, a dog who apparently belonged to Gimbert bit one of the officers. The animal was later taken into the care of Joint Animal Services in Olympia.

“I had a small abrasion on my upper left arm from the dog bite. The  dog also ripped a hole the left sleeve of my uniform shirt, and a small hole ripped on the pocket of my left pant leg,” a responding officer said in the report. 

Following her arrest, Gimbert told authorities she had ingested fentanyl, which led to her being transported to MultiCare Capital Medical Center in Olympia for evaluation. She was later cleared and booked into Thurston County Corrections Facility.

 Authorities confirmed Gimbert had previously been issued a trespass order banning her from entering all Walmart stores following an earlier theft incident at aYelm store.

Because of trespass order, police said her return to Walmart in Tumwater and removal of merchandise led to a burglary charge rather than a theft charge. 

Gimbert faces charges of second-degree burglary and obstructing a law enforcement officer.