Arnold Police arrested a 47-year-old St. Louis man following a short chase after he allegedly stole several pairs of Nike-brand shoes and socks from the Famous Footwear store, 1213 Water Tower Place, police reported.
Officers were called on July 17 to the shoe store after the man allegedly left the business without paying for the merchandise. He was seen leaving the store’s parking lot in a white 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis, the report said.
Later that day, an officer saw the Mercury parked outside the Shoe Carnival store, 2273 Michigan Ave., which is across the street from the Famous Footwear store in the Water Tower Place shopping center off Jeffco Boulevard. When the man saw the officer in the parking lot outside the Shoe Carnival store, the suspect allegedly ran from the officer. However, the officer chased the man onto the parking lot outside the Walmart store, 2201 Michigan Ave. and arrested the suspect. An unidentified woman drove away in the Mercury before the officer could stop her, according to the report. As of July 23, the woman had not been identified, Detective Cpl. Josh Wineinger said.
The man was taken to the Police Station, where he was booked and released. Arnold Police issued the man a summons to appear in Arnold Municipal Court for alleged stealing, Detective Lt. Jeremy Christopher said.
Wineinger said police recovered a pair of black Nike Alpha shoes and six pairs of socks. The items were returned to Famous Footwear.
Wineinger also said he believed more shoes had been recovered, but additional information was not available as of July 23. Arnold Police did not provide a value for the stolen items.