Woman Charged After Police Say She 'Trashed' West St. Paul Target

WEST SAINT PAUL, MN — The woman who police say "trashed" West Saint Paul Target has been charged, according to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court.

Gaylynn Atlene Bailey, 23 of West Saint Paul, was charged with first degree criminal damage to property, the documents say. The maximum sentence is five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000, officials said.

On Tuesday morning, West Saint Police said that officers were called to the city's Target on a report of a woman destroying merchandise.

Employees and customers were evacuating the store when officers got there, West Saint Paul Police wrote in a Facebook post.

WSP Target Evacuated After Woman Trashes Store: Police

Employees told officers that the woman, later identified as Bailey, went into the store at 9:41 a.m. and started to throw merchandise on the floor, smash display cases and knock over display stands, according to the criminal complaint.

Officers arrested Bailey and brought her out of the store around 9:52 a.m., police said.

The damage Bailey caused to the store was valued at nearly $7,000, but the amount could increase as employees continue to assess the damage, the criminal complaint said.