Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — May 30, 2025 — A response to an alleged shoplifting in Jonesboro ended with two people behind bars and the discovery of fentanyl, police said.

While standing before Judge Tommy Fowler on Friday, 43-year-old Stephanie Lotz of Collierville, TN, was charged with one count of possession of fentanyl, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of theft $1,000 or less.

Jason McCane, 42, was charged with one count of theft of $1,000 or less, one count of possession of meth or cocaine less than two grams, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of tampering with physical evidence, and one count of obstructing governmental operations. Online jail records do not list where McCane is from.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on May 28, officers with the Street Crimes Unit and agents from the Attorney General’s Office were conducting anti-theft and shoplifting operations. Staff from Academy Sports and Outdoors told officers they had a man exiting the parking lot who’d taken merchandise from the store.

The affidavit said officers made contact with McCane, who initially provided a Kansas ID under a false name. He was with Lotz, who was sitting in her car in the parking lot, reaching into the backseat as if “she was attempting to hide something in the vehicle,” the affidavit said.

The man was taken into custody after concealing a pair of Nike shoes into a backpack he’d removed the tags from, the affidavit said. While searching McCane, officers found a plastic bag containing 0.75 grams of suspected meth on his person.

The affidavit said McCane then told officers he’d swallowed fentanyl when they were contacting him. He was taken to a local hospital, then later discharged and taken to the Craighead County Detention Center.

Academy Sports staff told officers Lotz had been in the business and tore a security sensor and tags from a pair of shorts in an attempt to conceal them, the affidavit said.

A JPD officer arrived with his K9 Tiger, who conducted a free air sniff of Lotz’s vehicle. Tiger alerted on the vehicle, giving officers probable cause to search.

While searching the vehicle, officers found a digital scale in a backpack with white residue, multiple plastic baggies and a straw with residue that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, the affidavit said.

When officers went to speak with Lotz, they noticed “red abrasions” on the right side of her stomach. Officers told her she would be going to jail and said if she had any concealed contraband that it would be found.

According to the affidavit, Lotz told officers she had contraband, having hidden it in the front of her pants. Officers tested the 0.5 grams of white powder, which tested positive for fentanyl.

Lotz is being held on a $250,000 cash or surety bond and is required to wear an ankle monitor if she makes bond. While setting bail, Fowler noted Lotz had no ties to the community. Her next court date is set for July 31.

McCane is being held on a $50,000 cash or surety bond and will have to wear an ankle monitor. His court date is also July 31.

Editor’s Note: No photo was available of McCane on the Craighead County Detention Center website.