A veteran crossing guard for two Columbia County schools has been arrested for skip-scanning at a Martinez Walmart, according to the sheriff’s office.
Margaret Mclaughlin, 68, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor shoplifting. She was a part-time employee with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, working as a school crossing guard for seven years, Maj. Steve Morris said.
On Thursday, the sheriff’s office investigated a case where Mclaughlin was observed shoplifting at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Evans to Locks Road.
“She was observed ‘Skip Scanning’ numerous items and left the store without paying,” Maj. Morris said.
Ironically, a local mother had reached out to this reporter this week to complain that Mclaughlin was not crossing all of the children, specifically around River Ridge Elementary School in Evans. She said her children almost got hit by a car while the guard stayed in her car.
This reporter referred the parent to Sheriff Clay Whittle, but the guard has since been arrested on a $2,200 bond and faces likely termination from her role with the sheriff’s office.
