Marietta store manager tackles woman accused of stealing handgun

Store manager tackles woman accused of stealing handgun

Police say a woman tried to steal a handgun from TruPrep in Marietta and was stopped by the store manager. Manager Robert Sheppard, a former law enforcement officer, tackled and restrained the suspect with flex cuffs. The suspect, Priscilla Foster, is in jail without bond and also had stolen ammunition in her purse, police say.

MARIETTA, Ga. - The manager of a Marietta store took down a woman who police say tried to steal a handgun from the shop.

The backstory:

Robert Sheppard was working at TruPrep on November 19 when a woman asked to see a gun. Once the firearm was in her hands, police say she started jogging toward the door.

Sheppard — who has 30 years of law enforcement experience and is a use-of-force instructor — quickly ran after her.

What they're saying:

"I picked her up to get the legs out of the way, brought her to the ground, rolled her over and once I got her on the ground she was very compliant," Sheppard said.

Sheppard used flex cuffs — which the store sells and happened to be nearby — to restrain the woman until Marietta police arrived.

Sheppard said that while waiting for police, he talked to the woman — and even joked with her about her choice of firearm.

"When I realized what the gun was — not one of our more expensive guns, a $350 gun — I said something to the effect of, ‘If you’re going to steal a gun and take it for free, steal something good.’ She said, ‘I was trying to!’"

What we know:

Police identified the suspect as 40-year-old Priscilla Foster, who is charged with felony theft by taking and is being held in the Cobb County Jail without bond.

According to the police report, officers also found a box of ammunition in Foster’s purse that had been taken from the store.