By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK — Officers responded to Meijer, 3565 Fairlane Drive, for a retail fraud incident in progress Feb. 27.
Dispatch advised that the man was fleeing the store toward Taco Bell and that the store loss prevention officer lost sight of him near the restaurant. Police located the man who matched the description given by dispatch walking west from Taco Bell from the south side of he building.
When speaking with the man, police informed him he was being detained for retail fraud. The officer asked the man to place his hands behind his back with his palms together, but he did not comply so the officer grabbed each of the man’s wrists in order to control his hands.
According to the report, the officer could feel the man resisting so he then controlled the man’s wrists until backup arrived. While waiting, the man accused the officer of grabbing the first black man he saw. The man also continued to refuse commands to place his palms together.
Additional officers arrived at the scene and were able to secure the man in handcuffs. While conducting a search, a broken glass pipe was found in the man’s front left jean pocket. The pipe was burnt and fashioned for use of narcotics with a wire cleaner stuffed into one end. A wallet was also located that contained two Michigan identification cards, one Michigan operations license and one credit card — none of which belonged to the man. They were confiscated by police.
When police searched the area for the stolen merchandise, they found a Meijer bag filled with items as well as other items with Meijer tags on them next to the bathroom doors inside Taco Bell.
A Taco Bell employee said there was security video of the suspect inside the restaurant. Meijer LPO arrived at the scene and confirmed the man was the suspect in the retail fraud incident. The LPO said the man entered the store then selected an item and attempted to return it. He was denied the refund and LPO was notified.
Next, the man was seen selecting items and placing them into a cart. He concealed multiple items in a Meijer shopping bag and made his way to the exit, passing all points of purchase without paying. The LPO said he attempted to speak to the man about the unpaid items, but he failed to comply and fled toward Taco Bell.
Stolen merchandise recovered by police was returned to Meijer. The man was transported to the Allen Park Police Department for retail fraud and narcotics equipment.
He posted an interim bond and was released, but issued a citation for the crimes.