A Butler woman was arrested in what city police describe as a shoplifting that turned into a robbery Tuesday at a store in the Pullman Square shopping plaza.

The suspect, 24-year-old Rachel E. Ross, is being held in the Butler County Prison on $5,000 bail. She is accused of injuring an employee during the altercation at the Family Dollar store.

The employee, Pamela Fair, told investigators that about 4:40 p.m. she spotted the defendant hiding merchandise in her coat, police said.

Fair tried to stop Ross from leaving, according to court documents, but the suspect “slammed the door on (the employee) to get away.”

The victim suffered swelling and redness on her wrist.

Police arrested Ross a short time later. A search of her purse turned up a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana, documents said.

The items the suspect swiped are valued at $18.78, which earned her a misdemeanor charge of retail theft since she has one prior shoplifting conviction.

But her decision to use force against the employee turned the simple shoplifting into a robbery, a felony.

She also is charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, also a misdemeanor.