Bethlehem police had a devil of a time arresting a shoplifting suspect earlier this week at a city grocery store. Officers were dispatched to the Giant grocery store in the 2100 block of West Union Boulevard about 6:30 AM Wednesday for a shoplifting report. A man later identified as Jeffrey Castro-Rivera said he was Satan as he tried to leave the store with about $22 worth of drinks, pineapple and strawberries, according to the criminal complaint.
The first officer to respond ordered Castro-Rivera to stop. When he declined to listen to police, Castro-Rivera allegedly struck the officer in the head several times with his cell phone, according to court records.
A second officer arrived and helped take Castro-Rivera into custody. Authorities said he continued to struggle with officers during his arrest.The store manager told police that Castro-Rivera had been acting aggressively in the store, exclaiming he was Satan. Police said a records check showed this was his third shoplifting arrest.
Castro-Rivera, listed in court papers as homeless, now faces single felony counts of aggravated assault and retail theft along with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. District Judge Michael D’Amore arraigned the 25-year-old Wednesday night, setting bail at $25,000… WFMZ-TV69 News
