HUDSON, N.H. — A Wilmington woman is accused of biting and scratching Market Basket employees while attempting to steal groceries from the Hudson store on Thursday afternoon, leading to felony robbery charges.
The Hudson Police Department said Jessica Dee, 44, allegedly assaulted two employees after attempting to leave the Market Basket, located at 212 Lowell Road, with more than $90 worth of unpaid merchandise that led to a struggle.
According to a Hudson Police Department affidavit, Dee allegedly admitted to officers that she had entered the store intending to steal food and told police she had left a shopping cart containing unpaid items inside the store before attempting to leave.
Dee told officers that employees stopped her outside the store and dragged her back inside, causing scrapes to both knees. She declined medical treatment at the scene, the affidavit states.
Police said store employees provided a different account of the confrontation.
One Market Basket employee told officers he was alerted that Dee had stolen merchandise and walked past all points of sale without paying, according to the affidavit. The employee claimed that he attempted to detain Dee, at which point she allegedly scratched his wrist with her fingernails.
Another employee alleged that she observed Dee bypass the registers with unpaid merchandise and tried to stop her from leaving the store. During the struggle, the employee claimed that Dee bit her on the arm, according to the affidavit.
Police said approximately $91.01 worth of merchandise was attempted to be taken from the store.
After Dee was taken into custody and transported to the Hudson Police Department, officers conducted a secondary search and allegedly discovered a blue pill that was later identified as morphine in her pants pocket. During an inventory of her backpack, police said they also found an orange pill that was later identified as dextroamphetamine.
Investigators said Dee did not have a prescription for either medication.
Dee was charged with two counts of robbery, a Class B felony; one count of theft, a Class A misdemeanor; and two counts of possession of a controlled drug, a Class B felony.
Dee was held without bail and transported to the Hillsborough County House of Corrections pending arraignment. Court records show Dee was arraigned in 9th Circuit Nashua District Court on Friday where she entered no plea on the robbery and drug possession charges and pleaded not guilty to the theft charge. She was released on her own recognizance.
Dee is scheduled to return to court on Monday for a probable cause hearing.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
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