In some places, retail loss prevention has arrangements and agreements with the local prosecutor in which they can simply present the facts of a case with a report to the prosecutor, and charges are filed, thus eliminating the police from the equation. This is especially true in areas where the police are very busy. In those instances, loss prevention essentially does what the police do, eliminating the middle man. You then get a notice in the mail (or some other way) with your court date. It is possible to be charged without ever being physically arrested, but that's really a moot point. It sounds like you're being charged. Oops, I mean your friend is.

Anyway, your "friend" is going to get convicted of theft, it sounds like - the "friend" can always ask at court about programs for deferred sentencing, diversion, etc. and if the court has those programs they might steer him/her towards them. I wouldn't count on it for this amount of theft.