LEOMINSTER — On Sunday, February 8, 2026, at approximately 12:23 a.m., Officer Joseph Rydzefski and Officer Carmen Garcia of the Leominster Police Department were dispatched to the CVS at 9 Nelson Street following a report of a person shoplifting.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narratives of Officers Joseph Rydzefski and Carmen Garcia as well as the Supplemental Narrative of Sergeant Matthew Fallon for the incident and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Dispatch advised responding units the reporting party had stated there was a white female in a white vest and jeans, who has been in the store multiple times shoplifting in the past,” Officer Garcia said.
Dispatch also told police that the reporting party said the woman had a white four-door sedan as a “getaway” vehicle parked in the store’s parking lot.
Officer Rydzefski, who arrived on scene before Officer Garcia, said that, upon arrival, the only vehicle in the parking lot was a Chevy Trailblazer with Massachusetts plates. After identifying the vehicle, Officer Rydzefski went inside CVS to speak with the employee who reported the incident to police.
Officer Rydzefski said the employee told him the woman in Aisle 3, who had a basket full of items, had previously shoplifted from the store and he wanted her trespassed.
“He stated that the last time she was in the store she had a basket full of merchandise and ran out of the store, passing all points of sale, and making no effort to pay for any of the goods,” Officer Rydzefski said.
At this time, Officer Garcia arrived on scene to assist.
“Officer Garcia and I made contact with the female (Krysten Armstrong), who was initially cooperative and followed officers to the front of the store,” Officer Rydzefski said. “I clarified with her that the Chevy Trailblazer in the parking lot was hers, and she confirmed it. Officer Garcia stood by with the detained female inside the store, while I checked on the vehicle.”
According to police, Krysten Lynn Lavanway Armstrong, 31, is a resident of Maynard, MA.
Officer Garcia said that as they were walking to the front of the store, she told Krysten to go to one of the registers.
“Krysten handed me the basket, and I asked her for her identification,” Officer Garcia said. “Krysten stated she did not have it on her. I then asked Krysten for her personal information and stated to her that she was being trespassed from the store.”
Officer Garcia said that she explained to Krysten the prior shoplifting incident and the evidence behind it.
“I clarified to Krysten she was not being accused of shoplifting tonight,” Officer Garcia said. “Krysten asked if she was being trespassed from all CVS locations and I stated to her that she was only being trespassed from the CVS at 9 Nelson Street. Krysten asked if she could leave and I stated to her that she could not until the investigation was complete. Krysten began to appear on edge and anxious.”
Officer Garcia said she then heard Officer Rydzefski state over the radio to dispatch that there was an unidentified party in Krysten’s vehicle.
“I asked Krysten to identify that party, and she stated that it was her ‘friend’ (it was later confirmed the party inside the vehicle was Krysten’s spouse, identified as Rebekah Lavanway Armstrong, who was sitting on the passenger side),” Officer Garcia said.
According to Officer Rydzefski, when he approached the Chevrolet Trailblazer in the parking lot, he called the license plate into dispatch and was advised that the plates were registered to a canceled 2011 gray Ford Taurus. The officer then noticed a woman slumped forward in the passenger seat. After requesting an ambulance, he knocked several times on the window and the woman, later identified as Rebekah, woke up.
“She stated she was sleeping. I advised her that people usually lean back when they’re trying to sleep, and the position she was ‘sleeping’ in, based on my training and experience, was usually a sign of an overdose,” Officer Rydzefski said. “She denied taking any drugs and denied medical attention. While I was speaking to her, she was coherent and was able to answer all my questions. I advised her that the plates that were on the vehicle were not for the car and asked her if she had the registration. She stated that it was not her car.”
Officer Rydzefski checked the inspection sticker on the vehicle, which had expired as of 2025, and called the plate number listed on it (which was different than those attached to the vehicle) to dispatch.
“Dispatch advised that this plate came back to a white Chevy Trailblazer, registered to Krysten Armstrong, and was revoked,” Officer Rydzefski said.
Meanwhile, in CVS, Krysten asked Officer Garcia if she could leave to charge her phone. Krysten then made a phone call in the store while Officer Garcia was still in earshot.
“Krysten made statements that she was ‘freaking out’ to the person she was speaking on the phone with,” Officer Garcia said, adding that Krysten was pacing around and seemed anxious.
“Krysten continued to ask me if she could leave and I repeatedly stated to her that she could not,” Officer Garcia said. “I observed Krysten slowly walking closer to the store’s exit/entrance. At this time, Krysten dashed towards the store’s exit/entrance and sprinted outside of the store.”
Officer Garcia yelled for Krysten to stop, but she continued to run toward the store’s entrance/exit door.
“The store’s doors are sensored and open automatically,” Officer Garcia said, adding that there are two sensor-operated doors for entry and exit at the CVS on Nelson Street.
“The door (and inside of the vestibule) nearest to the outside did not open immediately and I attempted to detain her and grab Krysten’s arm before the doors opened,” Officer Garcia said. “Krysten then pushed me with her right arm, and I could not successfully grab her arm.”
As the doors opened, Officer Garcia said Krysten sprinted in the direction of Officer Rydzefski.
“I yelled multiple times to Officer Rydzefski to ‘get her,'” Officer Garcia said. “Officer Rydzefski grabbed Krysten in a bear hug to stop her from fleeing. Officer Rydzefski gave her countless commands to get on the ground, but Krysten continued to struggle with him.”
Officer Garcia said that she and Officer Rydzefski continued to give Krysten commands, but she continued to refuse to comply.
Officer Rydzefski then lifted Krysten and broke her fall into a snowbank, after which officers took her to the ground in order to gain compliance.
Officer Garcia said that as she and Officer Rydzefski were on the ground with Krysten, they continued to command her to place her hands behind her back, but she continued to resist.
Officer Garcia then attempted to gain control of Krysten by taking hold of her right hand.
“Krysten stated that she could not breathe,” Officer Garcia said. “With my left arm, I swooped it under Krysten to hoist her against me while providing a firm brace and also preventing her from burying her face in the snow and suffocating.”
Officer Garcia said that while firmly bracing Krysten with her left arm, she attempted to secure her right hand to regain control.
“I subsequently gained control of Krysten’s arm and Officer Rydzefski cuffed her and double locked them,” Officer Garcia said. Later adding, “Please be advised that as Krysten was sprinting outside, Rebekah drove away and fled the scene.”
Krysten was placed under arrest and transported to the Leominster Police Department for booking.
Krysten Lynn Lavanway Armstrong, 31, of Maynard, was charged with the following (Officer Garcia’s reasoning for the charges are provided in quotations):
- Assault & Battery on a Police Officer: “Krysten Lavanway Armstrong attempted to flee the scene and while do so pushed me (Officer Garcia) with her right arm,” Officer Garcia explained.
- Resist Arrest: “While officers attempted to arrest Krysten Lavanway Armstrong, she did not comply with officers’ commands and continuously pulled her arms away from officers, making it difficult for officers to place handcuffs on,” Officer Garcia said.
- Vandalize Property: “During the altercation with Krysten Lavanway Armstrong, Officer Rydzefski’s body worn camera was knocked off and the magnetic mount that holds it up to his vest broke,” Officer Garcia said.
- Shoplifting by Asportation, 3rd Offense: Officer Garcia said Armstrong has two open shoplifting by asportation charges involving amounts over $250, both with arraignment dates of Jan. 15, 2026, in Leominster District Court.
“Krysten Lavanway Armstrong has been trespassed from CVS at 9 Nelson Street.” Officer Garcia said.
In a supplemental narrative for the incident written by Sergeant Matthew Fallon, he stated that Officer Garcia attached to her report of the incident a video clip with a start time of Feb. 3, 2026, at 3:16 a.m., and an end time of Feb. 3, 2026, at 3:44 a.m.
“This video clip shows a female, presumably Krysten Lavanway Armstrong, entering CVS and taking a basket, and it also shows that female leaving CVS, with what appears to be a basket full of merchandise,” Sgt. Fallon said. Later adding, “Krysten does not have any prior guilty convictions for shoplifting.”
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in February, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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