CABELL COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – What started as a shoplifting call quickly escalated into a drug bust on Monday afternoon at a Huntington retail location.
At around 3:17 PM, Huntington Police responded to a report of a theft in progress at 2901 5th Avenue, Cabell County. The store manager told officers the suspect had locked herself inside the women’s restroom.
After a brief wait outside the restroom, officers encountered the woman, later identified as Mackenzie Townson, who emerged carrying several handbags, a purse around her neck, and a woven-style bag. Her first words to officers: “You scared the hell outta me.”
Townson admitted to having merchandise on her, and a search of her bags revealed miscellaneous makeup items valued at $101.43.
Further checks with Cabell County 911 revealed that Townson had an active warrant for failure to appear, signed by Magistrate Rice-Preece on March 4, 2025. She was immediately taken into custody and transported to Huntington Police Headquarters for booking.
On the way to HQ, an officer asked Townson if she had any drugs concealed on her. Her candid response: “I’ve got crack in my pants.”
Once at the station, she was escorted to a restroom, where she was instructed to place the drugs on the sink. Moments later, officers recovered a clear plastic baggie containing a white rock-like substance, suspected to be crack cocaine, weighing 2.6 grams.
The evidence was secured in the booking room lockers, and Townson was later transported to the magistrate’s office for arraignment.
The manager of the store provided officers with a full statement and an itemized receipt of the stolen items.
Townson now faces shoplifting and drug possession charges, in addition to her outstanding warrant.
