Suspect arrested after shoplifting, attempting to stab officers with box cutter
Greer Police in South Carolina said a man has been arrested after a shoplifting incident led to a standoff. Officers said they responded to the Walmart on Wade Hampton in reference to a male suspect who had shoplifted and threatened employees as he left. According to the police department, officers found the suspect at the intersection of Ravenell Street and Biblebrook Drive as he was shouting, “I am not going to jail.” Police said the suspect then fled, leading officers on a foot chase. When officers approached the suspect, he pulled out a box cutter and tried to stab officers, Greer PD said. Officers said they attempted to use their Taser on the suspect it had no effect. According to police, officers then disengaged the suspect and began negotiating with him. As negotiations with the suspect began to break down, he became more volatile towards officers and then threatened to harm himself, police said. Officers said the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist police and deployed their K-9 due to the increased threats from the suspect. The suspect was apprehended by the K-9, police said. No officers were injured in the incident. Police said the suspect was transported to Greer Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. Officers identified the suspect as Anthony Devass Bennett. He faces the charges of three counts of resisting arrest with a deadly weapon; two counts of assault and battery, and trespassing after notice. Bennett is currently being held at the Greenville County Detention Center. [Source: Fox Carolina]
Firecracker diversion set to cover jewelry store robbery, shoppers scramble to safety [Viral Video]
Several people were injured Sunday afternoon as shoppers and employees rushed out of the Florida Mall after fireworks were ignited to distract people from a jewelry store theft, Orange County deputies said. Deputies responded to the mall for reports of shots fired, but quickly determined it was fireworks. “We received a call of what was believed to be shots fired at the Florida Mall,” said Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jeff Williamson. “We had detectives that work there off duty and were there within minutes and determined it was not shots fired.” Instead, a distraction theft was happening at Mayors Jewelers, deputies said. One man created the distraction while another escaped with a $16,900 Rolex watch, according to deputies. “The individual walked into the store and began to inquire about the Rolexes. Tried on one and then tried on another one,” Williamson said. “When they were trying on the second watch, apparently the individual outside the store set fireworks off.” According to a report, the manager of the store told detectives that someone yelled, “He’s got a gun,” after the firecrackers went off, causing shoppers to run and the thief to run out of the store. Orange County Fire Rescue said 11 people were injured as panicked crowds rushed out of the mall. Five people were taken to the hospital and six were treated at the scene. None of the injuries were serious.
“Hundreds and hundreds of people (were fleeing),” shopper Ali Lamarani said. “We didn’t know what was going on.” Shoppers said on Twitter that they thought a gun was being fired. “People were scared. You could see it on their faces. They were really panicked,” Lamarani said. “There was panic — no organized evacuation or anything.” Detectives said they’re reviewing surveillance footage to try to determine who’s responsible for the incident. [Source: WFTV9 News]
Police investigating incident after alleged thief runs from, fights officer
Police took down an alleged thief after a fight with an officer in a pet store on the east side of Tucson. , Arizona. Tucson Police Department Sergeant Vinnie Da Cruz said they got a call from Petco at Broadway and Craycroft, that there was a man inside who was allegedly involved in organized retail theft. Petco staff had identified the man from previous incidents, Sgt. Da Cruz said. He explained that organized retail theft involved groups of people or individuals stealing items and then attempting to return them for cash. An officer showed up to the store Sunday to intercept the male suspect inside and question him, unbeknownst to the suspect, Sgt. Da Cruz said. The man allegedly tried to run from the officer inside the store and the officer chased him, eventually taking him down in the front doorway where the suspect started resisting arrest and fighting with the officer. Sgt. Da Cruz said more officers showed up to take the man into custody and no injuries were reported, either to the officer or suspect. The man is facing several charges from other unrelated warrants, but Sgt. Da Cruz did not explain what they were, specifically. [Source: Tucson News Now]
Suspect allegedly bit LP associates who tried to stop her from shoplifting
A 30-year-old Oak Creek, Wisconsin, woman allegedly bit Boston Store LP associates who tried to stop her from shoplifting nearly $200 worth of merchandise. The woman allegedly concealed $197 worth of merchandise from the Boston Store at Bayshore Town Center. Two loss prevention associates followed her outside. When one of them tried to grab her she bit the officer’s hand. The other officer tried to grab her, and she bit that person on the forearm near the elbow. Glendale police arrested the woman on suspicion of retail theft, battery and possession of drug paraphernalia. When officers searched her, they found 11 hypodermic needles and a crack pipe, according to their report. [Source: Journal Sentinel]
Employee accused of stealing nearly $3K
Decarius Franklin, 20 of Monroe, Louisiana, was arrested Sunday, April 8th, 2018. According to the arrest report, Monroe Police Officers responded to JCPenny at Pecanland Mall in reference to an employee theft. Monroe Officers made contact with a loss prevention associate who said DeCarius Franklin, an employee at JCPenny, made 38 fraudulent transactions and received more than $2,968.00 in returned cash. Officers spoke with Franklin who admitted to making 38 fraudulent transactions to get cash. LP asociates were also able to retrieve a copy of all transactions Franklin made. Franklin was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center on one count of theft. He has since bonded out on a $6,000.00 bond. [Source: My ArklaMiss]
Police officer under investigation for use of force after shoplifting arrest
Concerns about a Fort Collins, Colorado, police’s officer’s use of force during a shoplifting arrest have spurred investigations into the incident. The officer, whom agency officials declined to identify Friday, was driving home from a shift March 29 when he heard a call for service at Target, according to a news release from Fort Collins Police Services. He was the first officer to arrive on scene. When he arrived, a woman suspected of shoplifting was fighting with staff in the store’s loss prevention office area, according to police. The officer tried for six minutes to arrest her, despite verbal and physical resistance. A second officer arrived on scene, and the pair used “less-lethal tools” to take the woman into custody after an additional two minutes of effort. Officers used a taser and pepper spray, according to arrest documents. The suspect was injured, police said, but it’s unclear how. Police said the suspect also injured a Target employee.
Details about the nature of the injuries suffered were not made public, but police said the suspect was transported to an area hospital for an evaluation after the incident. She was booked into the Larimer County Jail later that day on suspicion of theft, third-degree assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of a police officer.
The unidentified officer is facing both internal and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigations into his or her use of force. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of those investigation, police announced Friday. While police have not named the suspect or the officer under review, county jail booking documents show 29-year-old Natasha Patnode was arrested March 29 at Target on suspicion of charges matching those in this incident. Jail booking documentation for Patnode identify the arresting officer as Justin Burch, but police said he is not the officer being investigated. Loss prevention staff reported recovering $419 worth of merchandise from Patnode.Interim Police Chief Terry Jones initiated the investigation based on internal concerns about use of force, according to the news release. Fort Collins Police Spokeswoman Kate Kimble said the suspect in the incident sustained injuries “when officers used force in an attempt to take her into custody.” The woman was transported to a hospital for evaluation, per agency policy, before being released that same day and then booked into the Larimer County Jail. [Source: Coloradoan]