Officer Timothy Charland of the Shrewsbury Police Department was on Boston Turnpike on Friday, April 17, 2026, when he overheard dispatch issue a BOLO, or “be on the lookout” alert, for a shoplifting incident that had just occurred at Whole Foods, located at 193 Boston Turnpike.
Dispatch informed Officer Charland that the suspects were escaping in a black four-door Honda with black wheels.
“I immediately observed a black Honda Accord with black wheels bearing Massachusetts registration [# redacted] stopped in heavy traffic on Boston Turnpike just west of Whole Foods,” Officer Charland reported.
According to Officer Charland, the vehicle fled from him before he later stopped it in the city of Worcester.
“Ms. Cassandra Powell of Taunton was the front right passenger and matched the description from the store manager as the shoplifting suspect,” Officer Charland stated.
Cassandra T. Powell, 31, resides in Taunton, Massachusetts, according to authorities.
“Ms. Powell did admit to stealing items on scene, and when asked what and where, she stated, ‘You’ll see,'” Officer Charland replied.
Officer Charland stated that the manager of Whole Foods was provided a photo of the suspect and confirmed that she interacted with the suspect before fleeing the store with two large bags containing products worth $1,033.33.
“A second suspect was also identified as a co-shoplifter with Ms. Powell at that time,” Officer Charland added. “Located within the vehicle she was inside was the $1,033.33 worth of stolen merchandise within Whole Foods bags.”
According to Officer Charland, Powell is charged with shoplifting by asportation over $250 and conspiracy for allegedly arranging to bribe the driver with narcotics to transport her to Whole Foods.
Officer Charland stated that when Powell was being loaded into the back of a patrol car for transfer to the house of detention, Officer Waleed Belgou discovered a glassine baggie containing a blue-tinted powdered substance on the garage floor near where Powell was sitting.
“Surveillance footage was reviewed and confirmed that this came from Ms. Powell,” Officer Charland stated. “The material is suspected of being counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl, also known as ‘blues.’ Ms. Powell was also charged with possession of a Class A drug.
Cassandra T. Powell, 31, from Taunton, was accused of the following:
- Conspiracy
- Possess Class A Drug
- Shoplifting by Asportation
Powell was charged in Westborough District Court on April 21, 2026, and pleaded not guilty. Following her arraignment, she was released on $650 cash bail with the condition that she stay away from Whole Foods.
Powell did not show up for her pretrial hearing on May 12, 2026, and a default order was issued for her arrest.
Powell attended the pretrial hearing on May 15, 2026, but it was postponed until later.
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