Sharp-eyed staff at Walmart, 2281 S. Main St., spotted suspected shoplifters Thursday and called in officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department to apprehend two men on felony.
Chance J. Archer, 25, of 227 E. Center St., was charged Thursday with felony theft while Rusty A. Allen, 45, of LaRue, was arrested on a felony failure to appear warrant.
Officers were alerted at 3:55 p.m. the duo were inside the store. Archer had been positively identified as a suspect in three previous shoplifting incidents from surveillance camera footage. Store security staff also identified and located a car used in the prior incidents.
Archer was spotted outside the car which was parked in a front row on the south side of the store. He was detained and questioned during which he admitted to leaving the store after a loud speaker announcement inside led him to believe store security was tracking him.
He also admitted to stealing Legos on prior trips to the store, taking nearly $1,500 in merchandise.
Archer told officers the car belonged to Allen who was still inside the store.
Records indicated Allen was wanted on a felony warrant with a caution that he can be armed and dangerous and has a history of illegal firearms possession.
Officers entered the store and began searching for Allen. He was located in a men’s restroom at the front of the store and was in the farthest back stall. He would not come out until the department canine team entered and warned the dog would be released if he did not exit the stall.
He complied and was taken into custody.
Officers determined the registration on the car was fictitious and they spotted needles and a clear bag on a seat through the front window. The car was towed to the city’s impound building where the police dog conducted a sniff and alerted to the presence of narcotics.
A search warrant was obtained and officers recovered opiate treatment drugs, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana.
Officers referred the case to the Logan County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of additional charges.