Man Attempts to Steal Laundry Detergent, Tells Police to "Talk Sense" into Employees

An Athens man was arrested Wednesday night after attempting to steal laundry detergent from the on Lexington Road, according to an report.

Police arrived at Family Dollar after receiving a report of shoplifting. As the officers arrived at the store, they saw a man exiting who told them they needed to go inside and "talk some sense into [the employees]."

Store employees told officers that the man — later identified as Douglas Hampton, 47 — had picked up a bottle of laundry detergent and tried to return it unpurchased. They also told officers that Hampton had done this numerous times and would also come in during busy times. 

Hampton was detained and barred from Family Dollar for two years. He was arrested for shoplifting and taken to the Clarke County Jail.