Quick-Acting Safeway Employees Credited for Woman's Arrest

Novato grocery store employees were credited Sunday with acting quickly to call police about a woman who attempted to pass a fraudulent check, leading to her arrest on not only that count but a weapons-related warrant as well.

At 11:54 a.m. Sunday, Novato police received an emergency call that someone tried to pass a fraudulent check at the Safeway store at the Novato Fair Shopping Center on Diablo Avenue in Novato, said Sgt. Jay Demski.

"It was nice because they called so quickly as opposed to letting her get away and then calling," Demski said.

After a quick investigation, officers found that Esterlita Yuma Beauchamp, 27, of Vallejo was wanted on a warrant out of Napa County for possession of metal knuckles, Demski said.

Beauchamp, who gave her occupation as a janitor, was arrested without incident and booked at Marin County Jail at 1 p.m. Sunday. She faces felony charges of burglary and forgery plus the misdemeanor warrant. Her bail was set at $50,000.

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