La Crosse couple charged in Menards theft. Man threatens to shoot employee

They tried to steal $138 from the La Crosse Menards. When an employee tried to stop them, things escalated quickly.

First, the employee tried to stop 30-year-old Samantha Grosch, demanding to see what was in her purse. Instead, she took off running into the parking lot, screaming, “He’s trying to rape me,” according to the report.

The employee backed off and threw his hands up as customers looked on.

Then, 31-year-old Jordan Gudin reportedly put his hand in the small of the employee’s back, indicated he had a gun and that he would use it.

The employee said he let them go because, “I don’t get paid enough to get shot.”

The couple was found a couple hours later, where Gudin told police, there was no gun. They had hoped to sell the stolen items on Facebook Marketplace.

Both are charged with theft and threats to injure, while Gudin faces a charge of disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon

Gudin remains in jail while Grosch was released on a signature bond.