Crime & Safety
News Near Canton: Nelson City Councilwoman Arrested for Shoplifting
Edith Portillo has been charged with misdemeanor shoplifting after allegedly stealing nearly $200 of merchandise from the Canton Walmart in June.
A government official in the Cherokee County community of Nelson has been arrested by the Canton Police Department for allegedly shoplifting nearly $200 worth of merchandise, documents say.
Edith Portillo, 72, was arrested by the department on July 23 and charged with misdemeanor theft by shoplifting after an investigation which spanned several weeks.
Later that day, Portillo posted an $800 bond and was released from the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, confirmed Cherokee Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Lt. Jay Baker to the Cherokee Tribune.
According to the Canton Police Department's incident report, an officer responded to the Walmart Supercenter on RiverStone Parkway on June 28 in response to a theft report. The officer spoke with a Walmart loss prevention employee, who said she had been working on an alleged shoplifting which occurred on the afternoon of June 15.
According to the employee, an older woman with short, grey hair and fair skin entered the store at 3:52 p.m., and left the store at 4:40 p.m. with 13 items of unpaid for merchandise valued at $192.92.
The alleged shoplifter left the area in a navy blue Chevrolet Silverado with an unknown license plate. The information provided by Walmart, including security camera footage, was turned over to Canton police.
According to the police report, the following items were reported as stolen from the Walmart:
- Two solar lights worth $20
- A $24.97 canister set
- Two "Thirsty Sheets," worth $1.67
- One $2 dish mat
- One LEGO "Ninjago The Golden Dragon" play set, worth $29.97
- One LEGO "Star Wars Republic Striker-class Starfighter" play set worth $35.96
Portillo denies the charges of shoplifting, saying to the Tribune that she, "didn't take" the items in question, nor do any of the items seem familiar to her.
Portillo is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and will remain on the council until a possible conviction. Even then, Nelson City Attorney Jeff Rushbridge told the Tribune that a council member can only be removed through superior court.
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