VERO BEACH — She turned in a wallet after stealing $1,200 that was inside.
Nikki Marie Shelton
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Now, Nikki Marie Shelton, 30, of the 900 block of Louisiana Avenue, Sebastian, faces charges of grand theft and possession of cocaine.
Shelton was released Monday from the Indian River County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Indian River County deputies responded to reports of a theft about midnight Monday at Stix Billiard Club, 939 14th Lane, Vero Beach. A bar patron told deputies she left her wallet inside the pouch of her motorcycle earlier while she went inside to play pool.
A bartender later handed the woman her wallet, saying that another woman found the item in the restroom, reports show. The woman said she only brought her debit card inside the pool hall.
The woman didn’t know how her wallet ended up inside the business, since it was supposed to be with her motorcycle, deputies said.
The woman told another person, a witness, that $1,200 was missing from the wallet, reports show. The witness then saw Shelton run to her car, pull a stack of money from her back pocket and put it in the center console of her vehicle, deputies said.
The witness told Shelton that her friend lost her wallet. Shelton told the witness she turned in a wallet she found in the restroom, deputies said.
Shelton told deputies she did not have a withdrawal receipt for the money she had, officials said. The bar patron said the cash belonged to her and her roommate for the rent, reports show.
Deputies were counting the money when a bag of cocaine fell from the cash onto the officer’s patrol car, officials said.
Deputies arrested Shelton and took her to the county jail. Shelton has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. April 3, court records show.
