A St. Louis woman has been charged in connection with a robbery Wednesday morning at Capital Mall.
Janay Clark, 23, is charged with one count of second-degree robbery. She is being held in Cole County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement shows Clark drove to the Dillards parking lot and left her 6-year-old daughter and 6-month-old daughter alone in the vehicle. The windows of the vehicle were cracked open.
Clark, who was driving with a suspended license, went inside Dillards and proceeded to conceal more than $800 worth of merchandise in a large bag she had brought inside with her.
Clark attempted to exit the store with the merchandise when she was stopped by an assistant manager.
Clark struck the manager and pepper-sprayed him in the store vestibule and attempted to flee.
Another employee tried to come to the manager's assistance, but Clark assaulted her with pepper spray to her face and mouth.
After eventually being taken into custody, authorities searched Clark's vehicle and noticed a strong smell of marijuana and found a rolled blunt of marijuana.
Clark told authorities the only reason she came to Jefferson City was to steal from Dillards because she saw something on Instagram about it. Without a vehicle to get back to St. Louis, authorities believe Clark will commit thefts in order to get money/transportation to flee the area if she is bonded out.