SPOKANE, Wash – A woman allegedly tried to steal hundreds of dollars worth of clothing during an athleisure sale at Plato’s Closet on North Division. However, before she could make it out the door, she was stopped by a teenage employee whom she purportedly assaulted.
Isabella Comer, the Assistant Manager of the North Spokane location of Plato’s Closet, said the store was busier than usual, “nothing we couldn’t handle because we were staffed for it.”
Things took a turn when one staff member told a woman she couldn’t go into the changing room with accessories and asked to hold on to them while she tried on clothes.
“She just didn’t want to give up any of the items,” said Comer.
Then, everything escalated, “the woman just started screaming at people.’
Comer said the woman ran for the door when a teen employee tried to stop her, “the goal was just to hand them back.”
They were able to get close to $300 worth of clothes back, but not without a fight. Comer said their teen employee was assaulted by Chelsie Castagna, who was caught on a surveillance camera. Comer told NonStop Local this was the first physical altercation they had had at the store. The employee is physically OK but was shaken up after the fight.
“I think more so frustrated than you know that things escalated as quickly as they did.”
NonStop Local reached out to Beth Roman, the franchise owner, who said in 2023, this location of Plato’s Closet lost close to $30,000 in merchandise from theft.
Comer’s message to those who have stolen from the store was clear, “we know who you are.”
Castagna was arrested and appeared in court Monday afternoon on a robbery charge. The judge released her without bounds. However, they did order her to sign up for pre-trial monitoring. Essentially, Castagna is required to check in to ensure she’s staying clear of drugs and alcohol and will make all her court appearances.
