Staff Report

COLUMBIA CITY — Three people from Columbia City were recently arrested for allegedly working together to steal items from Walmart.

Desiree P. Hooyman, 23, 113 Raleigh Court, Columbia City; Kye Case, 25, 133 E. Raleigh Court, Columbia City; and Amanda K. Zumbrun, 26, 925 Park Terrace Blvd., Columbia City, are each charged with organized theft, a level 6 felony; and criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor.

On July 11, a Columbia City Police officer responded to a theft in progress at Walmart. An asset protection employee said three individuals went to various departments within the store, removing items from their packaging and placing them into backpacks.

According to court documents, employees recognized two of the individuals from a previous theft involving a PlayStation controller. The three individuals were later identified as Hooyman, Case, and Zumbrun.

The trio was stopped by law enforcement and Walmart employees prior to leaving the store. Upon searching Hooyman’s backpack, officers found several items which had not been paid for, and items that were taken out of their packaging. Hooyman said she needed the items but could not pay for them.

Officers found two stolen items in Case’s backpack and several stolen items in Zumbrun’s backpack.

All three of them have been trespassed from Walmart.

Hooyman was booked in the Whitley County Jail on July 30. Case has already been arrested and released on their own recognizance. Zumbrun has been arrested and released on bond.