Homeless Man Arrested After Drinking in Liquor Store

An Athens homeless man was arrested Wednesday evening after he drank alcohol stolen from Bypass Bottle Shop, according to an.

At about 7pm., an employee at Bypass Bottle Shop on Commerce Road told police that earlier in the evening a man had entered, opened a bottle of DeKuyper Creme de Menthe liquour, poured himself a drink and then left. The employee said a taxi driver had told her that the man was last seen walking down Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway towards the bridge on North Avenue, and that if the man was found she would like to press charges.

After arriving at MLK Parkway, the officer observed James Wallace, 30, who appeared drunk, according to the report. Wallace attempted to enter the officer's vehicle, who stopped him for a search before escorting Wallace back to the Bottle Shop.

The employee positively identified Wallace as the man who had stolen the drink in the store. Wallace was arrested and charged with shoplifting. He was also barred from the Bottle Shop for two years and then transported to Clarke County Jail.