A Luzerne County woman has been charged with resisting arrest after being confronted for burning incense in a Walmart bathroom.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by patrolman Derek Weicikosky of the Rush Township Police Department in the case against Caitlin Gilpatrick:

At 5:10 p.m. Sept. 8, Weicikosky and patrolman Christopher Dimmick were dispatched to Walmart for a report of a disturbance after a female in the bathroom burned something and when confronted by employees, started cursing and being disorderly and was asked to leave.

Upon officers’ arrival, they made contact with Gilpatrick, 31, of White Haven, who was in the women’s restroom holding what appeared to be a small piece of wood used for burning incense.

It was no longer burning, and Weicikosky asked Gilpatrick what was going on, and she said that she was wondering why other people could spray their chemicals but she cannot burn her incense.

Weicikosky told Gilpatrick that Walmart does not want her in the store burning incense, and they could ask her to leave.

Gilpatrick was asked for identification to which she refused to do so, stating she wanted to leave and give her child to her partner, who was later discovered to be outside.

Officers followed Gilpatrick out of the bathroom and once again asked for ID, but she stated she did not have to produce ID, and wanted to get her child outside.

Officers again advised Gilpatrick that she was required to produce ID, at which point she began to try to get away from officers, at which time they had to place their hands on her to keep her in front of them.

At that point, Gilpatrick ran away from officers toward a checkout aisle.

Officers followed and ordered Gilpatrick to stop, and once they caught up to her, they instructed her to put her hands behind her back, but she refused.

Gilpatrick then began to tense up and refused to put her arms behind her back.

After multiple attempts to place Gilpatrick’s arms behind her back forcefully, Weicikosky instructed Dimmick to take her down to the ground.

Once Gilpatrick was taken to the ground, she kicked Weicikosky one time in the leg.

Eventually, Gilpatrick was placed into handcuffs behind her back, still struggling, and continued to scream and resist as she was taken out of the store as a large crowd of onlookers were observing.

Gilpatrick was searched incident to arrest, placed in the back of a marked police unit, and transported to the station for processing.

Gilpatrick faces charges of aggravated assault; resisting arrest/other law enforcement; disorderly conduct; resisting/interfering with officer; and simple assault.

She is currently free in lieu of $25,000 unsecured bail.