A 50-year-old Grayslake woman is facing charges after police say she bit into several packages of beef jerky – through the plastic – and put the packages back on the shelf of a Dollar General store.

Wendy Staples, of the 200 block of Center Street, was charged on May 20 with criminal damage to property for biting the jerky, said Grayslake Police Sgt. Scott Heimos.

Heimos said Staples was asked to leave the Dollar General, at 61 Center Street, after a store manager observed her biting the packages and carefully placing them back on the shelves. She refused to pay for the jerky, according to the manager’s statement to police.

Staples allegedly pushed the manager in the chest when he asked her to leave, leading to a battery charge, Heimos said. She was also charged with criminal trespass to property for not leaving the business when asked.

As she was being arrested, Staples allegedly claimed to be a law enforcement officer, “which we know she’s not, because we’ve dealt with her before,” Heimos said. He said she was uncooperative both before and after police arrived.

No drugs or alcohol are believed to be involved in the incident, he said.

Staples was released on $1,500 bond. She could not be reached for comment.

Heimos said a reason for the alleged jerky-biting is unknown.