Man Who Fled Woodbury Police Said He Didn’t Want To Go To Jail On Christmas Eve

A Woodbury man charged with fleeing police after allegedly stealing more than $500 worth of DVDs from Wal-Mart told authorities he ran because he didn’t want to go to jail on Christmas Eve.

Joseph Tyler Briseno, 38, of Woodbury, was recently charged in Washington County District Court with fleeing a police offer, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of theft.

A Woodbury police officer inside Wal-Mart on Dec. 24, 2010, saw Briseno leaving the store in a furtive manner and heard an employee yell, "That guy stole DVDs,” according to the criminal complaint.

The officer identified himself and ran after the subject, who entered a black four-door sedan, jumped inside and sped off, according to the complaint. The officer made eye contact with the man, and knew him as Briseno from previous run-ins with police.

Though police were initially unable to locate Briseno, officers called him a little after midnight on Christmas Day and asked what happened. Briseno told police he was scared, on probation and didn’t want to go to jail on Christmas Eve.

Officers spoke with Wal-Mart officials who told them that surveillance video showed Briseno taking about 26 DVDs worth $562.16 by stuffing them inside his sweatshirt.

If convicted on all counts Briseno faces a total of four years in prison and $8,000 in fines.