An arrest has been made in conjunction with a robbery and assault of a Lakewood store and store owner, police said today.

At approx 4:30 pm on February 19, Officer Vincent Wittmann responded to Solar fashion, in regard to a shoplifting incident. Upon arrival, he learned that a female entered the store and removed a pair of black pants from a clothing rack, and then placed the pants under her sweatshirt in an attempt to conceal them as she walked out of the store.

The owner, who witnessed the incident, followed the suspect outside and demanded the item back. The suspect refused and then proceeded to strike the owner in the face, knocking her eye glasses to the ground. Prior to fleeing on foot, the stolen pants fell from her shirt as she grabbed and pulled the victim’s hair as she was on the ground trying to locate her glasses.

Further investigation by Det. Chase Messer, resulted in the identification of Samantha Johnson, 30 yrs old, Lakewood as the suspect. On February 23, 2017, Ms. Johnson was charged and arrested for 2nd degree Robbery without bail. She was later transported to the Ocean County Jail.