Kissimmee Woman Arrested in Connection With Two Retail Thefts and Stolen Vehicle; Man Also Arrested
By Ciara Perez
Senior Multimedia Correspondent | iSkyNews.com
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POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Kissimmee woman with an extensive criminal history is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say she stole merchandise from two stores and was later caught driving a stolen vehicle. A man who was riding with her was also taken into custody.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), 46-year-old Jessica Knight and 50-year-old Marshall Callahan, both of Kissimmee, were arrested Monday, October 5, 2026, following an investigation involving thefts in Davenport and Kissimmee.
The investigation began Sunday, October 4, when deputies responded to a reported theft at the Publix on U.S. Highway 27 in Davenport.
A Publix employee told investigators she witnessed a woman leave the store with a shopping cart containing Tide and Gain laundry detergent pods without paying. The woman reportedly fled the area in a black Ford.
After reviewing surveillance footage, detectives identified Knight as the suspect. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant charging her with felony petit theft because of her previous theft convictions.
Stolen Vehicle Leads Deputies to Suspect
The following day, October 5, deputies received information about a stolen black 2013 Ford Focus spotted near Marigold Avenue and Walnut Street in Kissimmee.
Investigators quickly recognized that the vehicle matched the description of the Ford used during the Publix theft.
According to PCSO, the Ford Focus had been reported stolen to the Kissimmee Police Department on October 4, shortly before the Publix incident. The vehicle had been taken from the parking lot of Osceola Regional Medical Center.
Deputies located the Ford and conducted a traffic stop, discovering that Knight was behind the wheel.
She was taken into custody on the outstanding theft warrant. A check of her driving record revealed that her driver's license had been revoked since 2014.
However, investigators soon discovered that the Publix theft was not the only retail theft connected to Knight.
Second Retail Theft Reported at Dollar General
Shortly before deputies stopped Knight, another theft had been reported at the Dollar General on Palmetto Street in Kissimmee.
An employee told investigators that a woman had taken several items from the store and left without paying.
Detectives reviewed the store's surveillance video and identified Knight as the suspect. According to investigators, Knight was wearing the same clothing seen in the footage when deputies stopped her.
During the traffic stop, deputies also discovered a basket containing the stolen Dollar General merchandise in the back seat of the stolen Ford.
The merchandise was valued at $124.67.
Sheriff Grady Judd Responds to Arrests
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd praised the work of investigators and the cooperation of local businesses in identifying the suspect and recovering the stolen vehicle.
"Through good investigative work and cooperation between our deputies, detectives, and local businesses, we were able to quickly identify the suspect and recover a stolen vehicle and merchandise. Jessica Knight has proven that if she's not locked up, she's stealing. We will continue to hold those who steal from our community and businesses accountable for their actions," Judd said.
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| Credit: Polk County Sheriff's Office |
Both Suspects Have Prior Criminal Histories
Knight was arrested and charged with:
- Grand theft of a motor vehicle (third-degree felony)
- Two counts of felony petit theft (third-degree felonies)
- Driving with a suspended license (second-degree misdemeanor)
According to the Sheriff's Office, Knight has five previous felony convictions and five misdemeanor convictions. Her criminal history includes robbery, burglary, theft, criminal mischief, fraud, traffic offenses, narcotics offenses, and battery.
Callahan, who was a passenger in the stolen Ford at the time of the traffic stop, was also arrested.
He faces charges of trespassing, a second-degree misdemeanor, and violation of probation.
Investigators reported that Callahan has two previous felony convictions and four misdemeanor convictions. His criminal history includes aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, battery, assault, violation of a domestic violence injunction, and narcotics offenses.
The Sheriff's Office did not identify Callahan as a suspect in either of the retail thefts or announce a grand theft charge against him.
Both arrests followed an investigation involving multiple businesses and law enforcement agencies across Polk and Osceola counties.
The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Source: Polk County Sheriff's Office
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