NILES Cleveland area pair arrested in robbery at Eastwood Mall

NILES -- Two people were to appear in Niles Municipal Court this morning, charged with various offenses.
James L. McKinney, 44, of Cleveland, is charged with robbery; and Brenda Woodson, 44, of Garfield Heights, is charged with complicity to robbery and resisting arrest.
Police said an officer was working in the Dillard's store in the Eastwood Mall about 5 p.m. Monday when employees reported two people behaving suspiciously.
When the officer approached the couple, McKinney was holding a Dillard's bag open and Woodson's hand was emerging from the bag, police said.
The officer asked what was in the bag. McKinney dropped the bag and ran and Woodson tried to block the officer's path, police said.
When the officer approached McKinney again, police said McKinney tried to knock him down and struggled with him before the officer arrested and handcuffed McKinney.
Three men's suits valued at $1,295 were found in the bag. Police said McKinney was charged with robbery because he used force on the police officer.
Woodson had left the area, but about 25 minutes later, store employees reported two women yelling at employees. Police said one of the women was Woodson, and she was arrested and tried to pull away as an officer was handcuffing her. The other woman left before she was identified.