Cop's Daughter (and her Friend) Arrested for Stealing from Ramsey ShopRite

Around 5:58 PM on October 23, 2024, Patrolmen Bryan Paul and Chris Hulahan with the Ramsey Police Department responded to a report of 2 shoplifters being detained at the ShopRite on 259 North Franklin Turnpike. They walked upstairs to the loss prevention office and immediately made contact with the alleged shoplifters. The alleged shoplifters were identified as Alia Saldana and Samarah De Los Angeles.

Gabriel Demmings, the loss prevention employee, informed the officers that they only paid for a few items while attempting to exit the store with unpaid items that they had concealed. A receipt printout of all the items that Alia and Samarah allegedly attempted to steal indicated that the total value of unpaid items was $255.48.

Shortly afterwards, Patrolman Paul placed Alia under arrest for shoplifting, and Patrolman Hulahan placed Samarah in handcuffs. They were both escorted down the stairs and towards the patrol cars. Both Alia and Samarah were transported in separate vehicles to the Ramsey Police Department for further processing. When Alia was being transported in the patrol car, she told Patrolman Paul that her father was a Sergeant with the North Brunswick Police Department.

***(Note: She later stated while being fingerprinted that he was her step-father, while subsequently claiming to be his daughter, so there is a possibility that she is a step-daughter of a cop instead.)***

Officer Stephanie Cestaro with the Franklin Lakes Police Department was called to the station to search both arrestees. Alia and Samarah were photographed and fingerprinted before being placed in a holding cell as the officers completed their paperwork. They were both charged with shoplifting under 2C:20-11B(2) and released pending their court appearances.

Court records indicate that on January 28, 2025, Alia’s charge of shoplifting under 2C:20-11B(2) was downgraded to Loud and Unnecessary Noise (Ordinance 3-8.1) and she had to pay a total of $340 in fines. On February 11, 2025, Samarah’s charge of shoplifting under 2C:20-11B(2) was also downgraded to Unnecessary Noise (Ordinance 3-8.1), and she had to pay a total of $340 in fines.

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