Three individuals charged, arrested in connection with multiple thefts and robberies at local businesses

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office has charged three people in connection with multiple thefts and robberies committed at businesses in Mishawaka and South Bend between October 2017 and May 2018.

D'Angelo Depriest-Bey, 23, was charged with eleven felony cases and two misdemeanor cases in connection with these incidents in 2018. He was arrested on May 21, 2018 and booked into the St. Joseph County Jail. 

George Lamar, 23, was charged in eight felony cases and three misdemeanor cases in connection with the thefts and robberies committed at the businesses in 2018. He was taken into custody on May 23, 2018. He is in the St. Joseph County Jail. 

The third individual, Teairra Hudson, 33, was charged with one felony. 

Some of the affected businesses include: Walmart on Ireland Road, South Bend; Burlington Coat Factory on Grape Road, Mishawaka; TJ Maxx on Ireland Road, South Bend; TJ Maxx on Grape Road, Mishawaka; Meijer on Bremen Highway, Mishawaka; Plato’s Closet on Grape Road, Mishawaka; Meijer on Portage Road, South Bend; JCPenney on Grape Road, Mishawaka; and Meijer on Grape Road, Mishawaka. 

Tristen Eby is the assistant manager at the Plato's Clost on Grape Road.

"Just a typical day here, said Eby. "It was partially busy, but not too bad.”

A normal weekday in April turned chaotic for Eby and two other employees. 

“I noticed a guy that walked in and kind of started, towards the racks up here, acting a little suspicious," said Eby.  

Eby says that man along with another man and two women grabbed around $1,500 worth of clothes then made their way to the door, but passed the cash register. 

“I told him he needed to put the stuff down," said Eby. "He drew his fist back at me and I was like, ‘I have pepper spray.'"

Despite using the pepper spray, Eby’s threat didn’t work. The thieves got away and even punched one of Eby’s employees.

"Really big adrenaline rush," said Eby. "They say people have a flight or fight response. I have three kids at home so my fight response kicks in."

Probable cause affidavits say Depriest-Bey stole clothes and liquor from stores across St. Joseph County, then became physically and verbally abusive if employees tried to stop him. 

"Once I heard more stories of what was going on around us and he was getting more violent, it started to get more scary," said Eby. “I’m just glad they caught them, and they got what they deserved."