Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have arrested Amanda May Shrewsberry, a 39-year-old Ocala resident, following allegations of shoplifting and an altercation with law enforcement and store employees at a local Walmart. Shrewsberry faces charges related to the theft of electronic items, including a portable movie projector and a boat sonar device.

The incident unfolded around noon on December 5 at the Walmart located in Butler Plaza, 2900 SW 42nd Street, as reported by an officer from the Gainesville Police Department. Shrewsberry allegedly took a $349 boat sonar device, concealed it in her purse, and exited the store without making a purchase. The entire episode was reportedly captured by the store’s surveillance cameras.

The following day, while investigating the theft, a Gainesville Police officer received a tip from a Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) who believed the same suspect had returned to the store. Surveillance footage showed Shrewsberry selecting a large black storage container and placing it in her cart. She then reportedly picked up a portable movie projector, worth $268 and equipped with an anti-theft device, and concealed it inside the storage container. To further obscure her actions, she placed a large stuffed animal on top of the container.

According to the officer’s report, Shrewsberry was observed walking through the aisles with her hand in the storage container. After some time, she allegedly removed an item from the container and hid it on a shelf. The projector’s box and anti-theft device were later discovered in that aisle, suggesting an attempt to bypass security measures.

Shrewsberry walked around the store for some time, appearing to make sure that nobody was following her, and then, when nobody was near, she reached into the storage container, removed the unboxed projector, placed it in her purse, and walked toward the exit in the garden department.

The officer and LPO waited outside for her, and when they told her to stop, she allegedly grabbed the officer’s handcuffs while holding tightly to her purse. The officer reported that Shrewsberry pulled away and swung her arms to resist being detained; the LPO and the other Walmart employee tried to help, and the LPO placed Shrewsberry in handcuffs, but her hands were cuffed in front of her instead of behind her, and she allegedly continued to try to pull away.

The officer reported that Shrewsberry had to be physically held down, and she allegedly “screamed the entire time” and kept twisting away to break free. A Walmart employee was pushed backward at one point and hit his head and back on an electrical box. The other Walmart employee had bruises and abrasions on his arms, and the officer’s wrists were injured, along with some lower-body bruises.

Shrewsberry has been charged with two counts of felony petit theft with two or more prior theft convictions, resisting merchant detainment, removing an anti-theft device, and resisting an officer without violence. She has 10 felony convictions (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), and she has served two state prison sentences, with her most recent release in March 2024. Judge David Kreider set bail at $50,000 on the charges from the theft of the projector, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones added $10,000 for the theft of the boat sonar device.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.