Shoplifting suspect asked police to let her take heroin in her purse

CHICAGO, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Chicago police said a woman detained for shoplifting faces a felony charge after asking officers to let her take some heroin she had in her purse.

Police arrested Edith Hancock, 33, of Hastings, Minn., after security employees at a Walmart detained her on suspicion of shoplifting. While in custody, she asked officers for "just one blow" of heroin from her purse, police said, and officers said they found several bags of heroin in the purse, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Hancock was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor retail theft.

The police incident report said Hancock -- who told police she was three months pregnant -- was seen coming out of a fitting room wearing apparel she had carried into the room, and was detained when she tried to leave the store without paying for the clothes -- and some cosmetics she allegedly put in her purse.