Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
The Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) has filed petit theft charges on a local woman after being the subject of a social media post concerning an incident that occurred at Big Lots in Live Oak.
On Thursday, Dec. 19, a report was filed with the LOPD concerning a wallet being stolen from the Big Lots. During the investigation, detectives combed through the store's surveillance cameras to see if the incident was captured. During the review, the video allegedly showed the suspect pushing a shopping cart into Big Lots at approximately 1:35 p.m. with the victim’s wallet in the lower portion of the shopping cart. While walking through the store, the suspect stopped for a moment, retrieved the wallet, and placed it in the cross-body bag she was wearing.
It was also believed that the suspect was the owner of a white 2011-2014 Ford Edge, as she was seen leaving the parking lot in a similar vehicle. Investigators were able to obtain a list of vehicle owners through their Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID) who drove a comparable car in Suwannee County.
At approximately noon on Friday, Dec. 27, a Facebook post was uploaded by the LOPD seeking information about the incident and the subject in question. According to the arrest affidavit, within the first hour of the post going viral, four concerned citizens came forward and identified the suspect as 58-year-old Felicia Tadder Kicklighter. Investigators were able to confirm through their DAVID list that Kicklighter was the owner of a white 2014 Ford Edge.
Following up on the tips, Captain Jason Rountree went to Kicklighter’s home in Live Oak and questioned her about the incident. After Kicklighter was read her Miranda Rights, she acknowledged that she would cooperate with the investigation.
Kicklighter allegedly admitted to Capt. Rountree that she stole the wallet and had concealed it in a cross-body bag that she was carrying around the store. She presented the cross-body bag to Capt. Rountree during the interview that she had worn at the Big Lots. Hoever, the report did not specify if the wallet was inside the bag or if it was returned.
Based on the information obtained by Capt. Rountree and the surveillance footage, Kicklighter was charged with petit theft, the value of the wallet being approximately $100, and the contents of the wallet being valued at $100.