A 28-year-old Festus man has been arrested for alleged possession of heroin following a shoplifting incident at the Walmart Supercenter in the Twin Cities. The arrest occurred about 8 p.m. June 29, after the man allegedly stole a knife, ax and machete at the store, Crystal City Police Chief Chad Helms said.
After the man allegedly stole the items, store security confronted him, but he fled and was seen headed toward the nearby Walgreens store, where Crystal City Police found him, Helms said.
Police located the man inside the Walgreens and reportedly found him with “multiple capsules” believed to contain heroin. In addition, the man was found with the knife he reportedly stole. However, he had allegedly dropped the stolen ax and machete while fleeing from Walmart, Helms said.
“We don’t know what his intentions were with those items, but we were glad we could take him into custody without anyone getting injured,” Helms said.
During their investigation, officers also learned that the man already was wanted in St. Louis and Jefferson County on “felony criminal warrants.” So, the man was booked and then turned over to St. Louis Police, Helms said.
Depending on results from drug analysis, Crystal City Police will seek felony drug possession and stealing charges against the man through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Helms said.