Woman arrested for theft she reported to police officers

Email To A Friend
Printer Friendly
Comments

---

by Amanda Harnocz

Reporter

Tallmadge -- After admitting to police that she fabricated a report of a robbery Dec. 21, an employee of First American Cash Advance was charged with internal theft when police said she took several thousand dollars from the business.

"It was not a robbery," as initially reported, Tallmadge police Lt. Ron Williams said.

Police reports show the employee, 23-year-old sales manager April Willochell of Akron, spoke with police after officers responded to a panic alarm at the business.

Williams said Willochell initially told police it was thought two suspects had entered the store at around 6 p.m. and locked the front door of the First American Cash Advance, located at 525 South Ave.

According to the report, one of the suspects had a black handgun and demanded money and later the two suspects fled out the back door with an undetermined amount of money. Tallmadge police officers checked the area, but could not locate the suspects.

According to Williams, during a follow-up interview, Willochell admitted to Tallmadge detectives Dec. 27 she fabricated the Dec. 21 report.

"She is an employee [of the First American Cash Advance] and had access to the safe and did remove [several thousand dollars] in cash," Williams said.

Willochell is charged with fourth-degree felony theft, which could result in a maximum of 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine, fourth- degree felony falsification, which could also result in a maximum jail sentence of 18 months and a $5,000 fine, and misdemeanor obstruction of official business, which could net her 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.

According to Williams, the woman was transported to Summit County Jail Dec. 27 and is awaiting arraignment.

The case remains under investigation by Tallmadge police.

E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3911