HOLLYWOOD - After Winona Ryder was arrested Wednesday for shoplifting from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, the actress reportedly told the security guards she was doing it for research for an upcoming movie, The Post reported. At the moment, though, Ryder is not attached to any film project.Surveillance cameras spotted Ryder taking several articles of clothing and hair accessories, a total haul worth about $5,000. When the guards detained her, they also found she was carrying pharmaceutical drugs without a prescription. She was booked on charges and released just after 11:30 p.m. after posting $20,000 bail.
Despite the humiliation of being arrested, the Beverly Hills cops said Ryder was "very courteous, polite and friendly-a true lady," according to BBCNews.
Ryder's lawyer, Mark Geragos, has said in a press statement that there had been "a misunderstanding on the part of the store" and that Ryder was innocent of the shoplifting claims.
"When the facts come out, it will be clear that there was no theft involved," Geragos said. "The charges, I'm convinced, once the Beverly Hills [Police Department] has a chance to investigate it, will be rejected."
He also stated that Ryder had the prescriptions for the medication she was carrying but was unable to present them at the time of her arrest.
The Beverly Hills District Attorney's office are currently considering whether to charge Ryder with grand theft and possessions of drugs without a prescription, or simply drop the charges.
"We haven't been presented any evidence to look at," a spokeswoman for the office told the Los Angeles Times.
Ryder is due to be arraigned Jan. 11 in Beverly Hills Superior Court. Her publicist has declined comment at this time.