Brick Teen Charged With Robbing Walmart, Punching Security Officer

Kiana Craig (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

Two Brick teens are facing charges stemming from the robbery of the township’s Walmart store, with one facing an assault charge in addition to the robbery accusation.

Brick Police Sgt. Jim Kelly said just after 4 p.m. Friday, officers were called to the Walmart for a report of a robbery. The Loss Prevention Officer attempted to stop two females from leaving the store with merchandise they did not pay for, but when he confronted them one of the females, identified as Kiana Craig, 18, of Brick, “punched the officer twice in the left side of his face with a closed fist.”

A second Loss Prevention Officer observed what was happening and attempted to intervene, but the suspects fled, leaving the items behind, Kelly said.

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Patrolman Brian Ulman was one of the responding officers. While en route to Walmart he noticed a vehicle that matched the description which was provided by the loss prevention officers and stopped it. Ulman questioned the occupants while Patrolman Mark Catalina arrived as his backup. The occupants, one who was identified as Craig, began arguing with Officers Ulman and Catalina, police said.

A follow-up investigation revealed that Craig and an occupant of the vehicle, a female juvenile, matched the description of the robbery suspects. Craig and the juvenile were both taken into custody, Kelly said.

Craig was charged with Robbery and transported to Ocean County Jail. The juvenile female was processed and released to a guardian.