A Mercedes SUV-driving Oshawa woman is facing multiple charges, including assaulting a police officer, after being caught allegedly shoplifting earlier this week.

"She's a feisty one," Sgt. Nancy Van Rooy of Durham Regional Police told CTV News on Thursday.

Shortly after 7 p.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to a Winners store in Whitby.

"The security officer had observed a female suspect steal an item from the store and leave without paying," Durham Police allege in a news release issued Thursday.

"The officer then approached the suspect and was physically assaulted in the face before the suspect fled on foot."

The suspect then claimed to be armed with both a knife and a handgun. She threatened the officer before fleeing, police claim.

As Durham officers arrived at the scene, they saw the woman in a parking lot. When they approached, she attempted to board a bus, but then fled southward on foot.

A police helicopter helped officers track her location.

As she ran, the woman discarded clothing. Van Rooy said the woman had been wearing multiple layers.

"As she's running from police officers … her outfit changes from red t-shirt to white, to black," Van Rooy said.

When police officers finally caught up with the suspect, "she resisted arrest," the sergeant claimed. However, no one was seriously injured.

Van Rooy said police found some marijuana on the woman. She did not have a handgun or knife in her possession.

In the Mercedes, there were different bags from different stores near the Winners store, containing small-ticket items such as clothing and towels.

"I can't give you the actual dollar value," but there was a long list of recovered items, Van Rooy said.

Keyseann MacKenzie, 35, of Oshawa faces the following:

  • theft under $5,000 (two counts)
  • resist a police officer
  • assault
  • threatening death or bodily harm
  • possession of property obtained by crime (two counts)
  • possession of marijuana

MacKenzie was released from police custody on an undertaking.

No allegations against MacKenzie have been proven in a court of law.