Safford police officers were called to Walmart on August 1st at approximately 2:00 p.m., in reference to a Native American man who had concealed a large knife under his shirt and tried to walk out of the store with it.
Asset protection personnel observed a man, later identified as Mark Gilbert, select a large sheath knife and put it under his shirt. Gilbert was detained until police arrived. Gilbert was with a woman, identified as Twila Hunter. When police arrived, they ran a background check and discovered that Hunter had a federal warrant for her arrest with extradition. One of the responding officers transported her to the Graham County Jail.
Officers removed the knife from Gilbert possession and placed him under arrest. He was searched before being placed in a patrol vehicle. Authorities found a red metal smoking pipe in Gilbert’s sock. The pipe contained burnt residue that smelled like marijuana. Gilbert said that he did not have a medical marijuana card. Gilbert was cited for shoplifting and trespassed from the store.
