After owners of Smoking Burnouts in East Austin say the same woman vandalized their shop three times in a row, they’re questioning why she was released from prison.
AUSTIN, Texas — An East Austin business owner said repeated arrests haven’t stopped the same woman from coming back and trashing his store again and again. He said the woman has caused more than $30,000 worth of damage to his store and assaulted a customer at the Smoking Burnouts smoke shop on Rogge Lane.
“I thought we had dealt with it the first time,” Travis Tyler said. “We thought she was locked up.”
Surveillance video from Wednesday morning shows the woman walking into the shop and tipping over glass displays, making it the third time since November she’s accused of vandalizing the store.
Timeline of arrests
According to court records, on Nov. 26, the woman was charged with a misdemeanor for theft and a felony for assault of a peace officer, with both bonds set at $1,000. She was also ordered to stay away from the smoke shop and take her prescribed medications.
But just about a month later, on Dec. 30, she came back to the store. This time, the affidavit said that not only did she vandalize the store, but also assaulted someone who is visually impaired. Surveillance video shows the employee who was working at the time stepped in to try and help their regular customer, but she claims the woman started attacking her instead.
After this incident, the woman was charged with a misdemeanor for aggravated assault, a felony for criminal mischief and a misdemeanor for resisting arrest. She was again required to stay away from the smoke shop.
But Tyler and his employees were shocked to see her return again Wednesday to vandalize the store.
“We don’t understand how somebody can get out of jail over and over again, when they’re actually assaulting people, you know?” Tyler said. “No one’s ever crossed the line like this. This is obscene.”
In addition to the physical damages, Tyler said his employees suffered emotional damages too.
“It’s kind of like put me on extreme, high anxiety, because it’s like, I just try to do my job,” said one of the employees, who did not want to be named for the interview.
Tyler said since it’s happened so many times now, he’s making arrangements to increase security. But now, they just want to know why this woman has been released several times now.
“How many more incidents does it have to be before it’s like, ‘Oh, you know, it matters’? Like, that’s not fair,” the employee said. “Obviously, something’s wrong in the legal system to where she just keeps getting thrown outside and we just kind of have to deal with it.”
What’s next for the cases?
KVUE reached out to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office to learn why the woman was released after the second incident, but we haven’t heard back yet.
A mental health diversion hearing for her felony charge for assault of a peace officer on Nov. 26 is scheduled for Feb. 11.
On Wednesday, the woman was booked into the Travis County Jail at 12:41 p.m. with a misdemeanor for criminal mischief.
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