CIM officer arrested on suspicion of shoplifting

By Stacia Glenn and Neil Nisperos

Saff Writers

Victorville--A corrections officer at the California Institution for Men was arrested Tuesday after loading her car with stolen items from Target and fleeing with her 6-year-old son, officials said.

Tonya Henderson, 40, filled her shopping cart with merchandise from a Target store on Palmdale Road in Victorville while wearing her California Department of Corrections uniform.

The off-duty officer then left the store about 9:45 a.m. without attempting to pay for the items, sheriff's officials said.

Henderson managed to load a big screen television, steam cleaner and X-box video game console into her vehicle before a loss prevention officer noticed, authorities said. After tracking her license plate number, deputies arrested Henderson at her Adelanto home on suspicion of commercial burglary. The stolen goods are valued at $2,800.

Henderson was being held at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga but was released on bail Wednesday morning. 

Terry Thornton, California Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said corrections is investigating the incident and has placed Henderson on paid administrative leave since Wednesday. 

"We don't know how long that could last," Thornton said.

Thornton said Henderson was hired on July 1, 2002 and has worked full time as a relief corrections officer filling in for officers on vacation or taking time off for furlough, Thornton said. Thornton said Corrections would not have hired Henderson if she had a felony criminal record in the past, and that the incident would be grounds for termination if Henderson is found guilty in court.

"If someone is found guilty of a felony, that would disqualify them from a peace officer position," Thornton said. 

nil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com

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