Safford police were dispatched to Walmart on Thursday afternoon, March 26th, in reference to a shoplifter. As an officer was approaching the store, he saw the suspect running south from Walmart across the train tracks and into a field. The officer noticed that the man was throwing DVDs as he ran. He also threw his hat and jacket as he ran. When he got to the canal road, he ran east along the canal. He continually looked behind him at the officer who was following in his patrol car.
With the assistance of other officers, the man was apprehended and handcuffed. Authorities recovered three DVDs and three sets of earphones from the field near the canal. The amount of the items totaled $63.98.
When police questioned the man, he pleaded the fifth amendment and refused to answer any questions. The man was booked on a warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia and cited and released for shoplifting. He was also trespassed from the store.
