Shoplifter Stuffed Steak, Beef Jerky Into Pants: Solon Police

SOLON, OH — An off-duty Solon police officer stopped a suspected shoplifter at the Market District.

A little before 9 p.m. on May 3, staff at the Market District found the off-duty officer, who was working security at the grocery store, and told them they suspected a theft was in-progress. The staffers said they had captured a shoplifting incident on camera on May 2 and the suspect in the video was back in the store.

The officer began watching the suspect. The suspect, a Solon man, went to the meat section and removed a package before walking throughout the store, police said. The officer continued to follow him around the store.

The suspect eventually stuffed the package of meat down his pants, police said. The man then walked down an aisle, grabbed a package, stuffed that down his pants too and walked out of the store without paying. The officer followed the man into the parking lot and confronted him.

The suspect refused to listen to the officer and walked away. On-duty police were called to the scene and confronted the man in the parking lot of the Park East Apartments.

The man had an open package of beef jerky in his hands. Police said the man had not paid for the beef jerky.

When officers placed the man in handcuffs, a package of steak fell out of his pants.

The 23-year-old Solon man was arrested on suspicion of theft, police said. During a search of the man's belongings, officers found a bag of marijuana.