Two Sisters Arrested in Market Basket Shoplifting Assault

Two sisters, Olivia L. Byrd, 37, of Quincy, and Rahjane J. Byrd, 28, of Hyde Park, were arrested after an Oct. 26 confrontation at the Market Basket on West Center Street in West Bridgewater around 5 p.m., police said. Employees observed the women concealing high-priced items — including lobster meat, prime ribeye steaks and truffle butter — in a blue bag and not paying for them at checkout, police said. When confronted by employees identified in reports as Alexander Oseas and Wesley Kimbrel, the sisters allegedly used racial slurs and obscenities and physically assaulted the workers; officials say Olivia struck an employee with her purse and slapped him while Rahjane struck another with the bag, causing a fall and a small facial laceration, and bystanders and store surveillance captured the incident. The pair were charged with assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, shoplifting by asportation and disorderly conduct, were arraigned in Brockton District Court, and released on personal recognizance. Police reports note Olivia told officers the women were working as Instacart contractors completing an order for a customer; the allegations have not been proven in court.