Woman arrested for biting jerky in store

GRAYSLAKE, Ill., May 26 (UPI) -- Police in a Chicago suburb said they arrested a woman accused of biting several packages of beef jerky and returning them to a store shelf.

Grayslake police said Wendy Staples, 50, refused to pay for the jerky after a Dollar General store manager observed her biting through the plastic of the packages and putting them back on the shelf, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

Sgt. Scott Heimos said Staples allegedly pushed the manager in the chest when she was asked to leave. He said Staples claimed to be a law enforcement officer during her arrest.

"We know she's not, because we've dealt with her before," Heimos said.

Staples was charged with criminal damage to property, battery and criminal trespass. She was released on $1,500 bond.

Heimos said investigators do not know the motive behind the jerky-biting.