Woman Caught by Good Samaritans After Armed Robbery Attempt in Bloomfield Township

A Pontiac woman accused of robbing another woman at knifepoint outside the Hollywood Market in Bloomfield Township on Tuesday remains in custody at the Oakland County Jail today largely because of the quick action by two good samaritans, police said. 

Shamekia Ballentine, 35, faces one count of armed robbery and one count of felonious assault for allegedly pulling a knife on a shopper and demanding her purse while the victim loaded groceries into her vehicle, police reports said. Ballentine was arraigned Wednesday at the 48th District Court in Bloomfield Township and received $250,000 bond. 

Officers with the Bloomfield Township Police Department responded to the store for a fight call shortly after 5 p.m. and found a woman, later identified as Ballentine, pinned to the ground by two men, reports said. The victim, 56, said the assailant approached her from behind, put a knife to her throat and demanded her purse. 

A struggle ensued, and the victim suffered defensive cuts to her hands from the knife, reports said. She was later taken to a hospital for treatment and released. The two men saw the struggle in the parking lot and came to the victim's aid.