Wanting to escape felony charge, Bradenton woman offers sex for her freedom, cops say

A 28-year-old Bradenton woman was arrested on a felony theft charge on Thursday and attempted to buy her freedom with an offer of sex, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say Stephanie Karrels attempted to steal more than $500 worth of merchandise from the Walmart at 8320 Lockwood Ridge Road, but she was unaware she was being observed by a deputy who already knew her.

According to the arrest report, the deputy recognized Karrels from a previous incident where she was harassing customers at a Speedway gas station where she also had attempted to steal beer.

Karrels was confronted at Walmart’s exit when she attempted to leave with the stolen merchandise and deputies say she abandoned the merchandise and ran away on foot.

She was captured after a brief chase, at which time deputies say she began to insist she was being illegally detained.

As Karrels was being transported to jail, she began to make several offers for her freedom, the first of which claimed she had knowledge of drug dealers and child molesters that she would share, but only if the deputy released her immediately, the report states.

The deputy declined the offer, but informed her that she could make a statement about her knowledge to someone at the jail.

When that didn’t work, Karrels, “made the statement that she would have sex with me if I released her,” the report states. “I advised her that wasn’t going to happen.”

Karrels was booked into the Manatee County jail for felony theft. She remains in custody on a $1,500 bond pending a future court date.