BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A Boca Raton woman was arrested after an alleged retail theft incident at a Boynton Beach Target escalated into a disturbance that disrupted customers and employees inside the store.
Amanda Brittany Simmons, 35, of Boca Raton, was taken into custody March 24 following an incident at the Target located at 650 North Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach. She is facing charges of petit theft, disorderly conduct, and resisting an officer without violence, according to court records and a probable cause affidavit.
The case is filed in Palm Beach County Court under case number 50-2026-MM-002337-AXXX-SB, where Simmons is listed as the defendant in a county criminal matter.
Police were dispatched to the store in the late afternoon in response to a reported in-progress theft. According to the arrest affidavit, a loss prevention officer reported that Simmons had selected multiple items inside the store, placed them in a shopping cart, and exited past all points of sale without paying.
The total value of the merchandise was listed at $360.54.
When confronted, the situation escalated. The affidavit states that Simmons became visibly upset and engaged in a verbal altercation with store staff near the self-checkout area. Customers and employees in the area were described as disturbed, with some stopping their normal activities as the confrontation continued.
Officers arriving on scene detained Simmons due to what was described as aggressive behavior and continued yelling. During the arrest, police state she resisted being taken into custody by tensing her body, pulling away, and dropping her weight to the ground as officers attempted to handcuff her.
The affidavit also notes that store surveillance footage showed Simmons exiting the store with unpaid merchandise before returning toward the self-checkout area, where the disturbance continued. Police say that Simmons was aggressive, yelling, and accused the Loss Prevention officer of being racist during the attempted apprehension.
Target personnel indicated they intended to pursue charges and issue a trespass warning, according to the report.
Simmons was transported and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail later that evening. Jail records show she was booked at approximately 7:44 p.m. and released the following day on bond. Her bonds were set at $1,000 for the theft charge, $250 for disorderly conduct, and $1,000 for resisting an officer.
Court records indicate that probable cause was found on all charges, and the case was scheduled for a plea conference following her initial appearance.
The charges remain pending in Palm Beach County Court. As with all criminal cases, the allegations have not been proven in court.
Residents should note that retail theft incidents involving confrontations can result in additional charges beyond theft itself, particularly when behavior escalates or interferes with others in a public space. Cases like this are handled at the county level, where misdemeanor offenses are prosecuted under Florida law.
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