A 30-year-old Franklin County man, who was pulled over for a traffic violation, was arrested for allegedly shoplifting from a gas station in Eureka, police report. The man was pulled over at about 4:45 a.m. March 4, the report said.
During the stop, the officer discovered the man was wanted on active warrants through Troy, and while searching him, the officer allegedly found in the man’s coat pocket two pocketknives and some cakes, all still in their packaging. the report said. The man allegedly told the officer he got the items from the MotoMart gas station, 5695 Fox Creek Road, but would not say if he purchased the items, the report said.
The officer went to the gas station where a clerk told him the Franklin County man had been in the store and bought a soda then walked around for about 10 to 15 minutes, the report said. The officer saw a display shelf with the pocketknives and a shelf with the cakes matching those the man had in his coat pocket, the report said.
The Franklin County man allegedly told the officer he stole the knives and cakes. The knives were valued at $10 each.
The man was arrested and released on a summons to appear in Eureka Municipal Court for alleged shoplifting after Troy declined to extradite him, Eureka Police Capt. David Wilson said.