BUTLER TWP — What began as a seemingly simple shoplifting landed a Butler couple in jail — each charged with two felonies.

Amy A. Blakely, 40, and John D. Summerville, 41, were nabbed Wednesday afternoon trying to walk out of the Walmart at the Butler Commons shopping plaza with nearly $120 in merchandise for which they had allegedly not paid.

But Blakely did not go quietly when Butler Township police tried to arrest her, according to court documents. She is accused of spitting at and struggling with police, leaving one officer with minor injuries.

For Summerville, it was his fifth shoplifting arrest.

Police said the couple was spotted about 2:50 p.m. at one of the self-checkout registers placing grocery items into shopping bags that had not been scanned.

In all, documents said, they did not pay for 45 items valued at $119.25.

Blakely handed authorities an Access card when asked for identification. The card was in the name of another woman.

Police were unable to verify the name on the card and pressed Blakely for her real name. When she refused, police said, officers attempted to place her in handcuffs.

But she resisted, “twisting and writhing” in her bid to get away, according to a police affidavit.

The officers eventually got the cuffs on her but at one point she allegedly spit in the face of Sgt. Steven Hensel.

She continued to struggle with the officers while being led outside to the cruiser, police said. During the struggle, two of Hensel’s fingers got twisted up in the handcuffs. He suffered a cut on his left ring finger.

A subsequent review of the defendants’ criminal histories showed Blakely with six aliases and Summerville with four prior shoplifting convictions, documents said.

While normally a summary or misdemeanor offense, retail theft is upgraded to a third-degree felony regardless of the stolen property’s value when a defendant has at least two prior arrests for the same crime.

Blakely was arraigned on felony charges of aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit retail theft, and misdemeanor charges of simple assault, resisting arrest, retail theft and false identification to law enforcement authorities.

Summerville was arraigned on felony charges of retail theft and conspiracy to commit retail theft.

Blakely and Summerville were placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 and $5,000 bail, respectively, following arraignment.

Preliminary hearings for both defendants are set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday before District Judge Kevin O’Donnell.