Two Auburn Residents Arrested for Organized Retail Theft on East University Drive

AUBURN, AL — Two local residents have been taken into custody and charged after police responded to reports of a shoplifting incident in progress at a commercial establishment on East University Drive.

The Auburn Police Department announced the arrests of 51-year-old James Wylie Jackson III and 45-year-old Shadrika Detrice Jackson, both residents of Auburn, Alabama. The arrests occurred on November 9, 2025, after officers were dispatched to a business located in the 2900 block of East University Drive.

Police Response and Arrest

According to authorities, dispatchers received a call detailing a theft in progress. Patrol officers arrived on the scene quickly, intercepting the suspects before they could leave the vicinity. Following an on-scene investigation and the recovery of stolen merchandise, both individuals were arrested without incident.

Investigators determined that the suspects' actions met the state legal definition of organized retail theft, which involves conspiring or cooperating to steal retail property with the intent to resell or distribute the items.

Charges and Custody Details

Both James Wylie Jackson III and Shadrika Detrice Jackson have been charged with:

• Organized Retail Theft (Felony)

Following their arrest, the suspects were transported to the Lee County Jail, where they were booked. Each is currently being held on a $10,000 bond. The Auburn Police Department continues to investigate the incident to determine if the pair is connected to other recent retail thefts in the East University Drive corridor.