Havasu’s local post office will endure one of its busiest seasons without an interim postmaster at the helm. Meanwhile, the United States Post Office remains silent following nine misdemeanor shoplifting indictments for Lake Havasu City’s postmaster.
According to post office officials on Thursday, no interim postmaster has taken over the post office’s operations this week, following the arrest of former postmaster Deborah J. Tinnell, 67. Tinnell was charged last Thursday with nine counts of shoplifting in a series of incidents that allegedly took place from Oct. 25 to Dec. 11.
United States Post Office public information officer John Hyatt could not provide information on Wednesday as to a possible transition in leadership at Havasu’s post office.
“At this time, we are not able to provide information while the case is under investigation,” Hyatt said. “Until the case is resolved, an officer in charge will manage the facility and delivery. Retail services to our Lake Havasu customers will remain unaffected.”
Tinnell pleaded not guilty to each of the nine counts against her this month, with future hearings pending in Lake Havasu Municipal Court.
According to the Lake Havasu City Police Department, Tinnell was taken into custody Dec. 12, following an investigation into multiple shoplifting incidents from Havasu’s Walmart location. Police say those instances each involved a failure by Tinnell to scan items at the store’s self-checkout kiosk, and accusations that Tinnell may have swapped UPC barcodes in order to pay less for items than their actual value.
When questioned by investigators, police say that Tinnell neither confirmed nor denied the accusations against her at that time. According to the police report, Tinnell has since been banned from the business indefinitely.
