Man Flees Walmart On Stolen Scooter He Assembled In Store: Sheriff

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A 37-year-old Woodbridge man is facing multiple charges after assembling an electric scooter inside a Walmart before using it to flee the store without paying for his ride, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded around 11:04 a.m. to the Walmart at 11 Village Parkway in the Fredericksburg area for the report of a larceny. After reviewing the store's surveillance video, investigators broadcast a description of the scootering suspect.

A deputy spotted a man on a scooter near the Popeyes restaurant at 735 Warrenton Road. When the deputy made contact, the man said he had found the stolen scooter, according to the incident report. After another deputy arrived on the scene, they tried to take the suspect into custody, but he resisted, although they were eventually able to detain him.

The suspect, identified as Phillip Douglas, asked the deputies, "Am I getting a ticket or something?" according to the sheriff's office.

"Douglas was found in possession of suspected controlled substances," according to the incident report. "He was wanted out of Stafford County for a failure to appear offense. He was also wanted out of Prince William County for numerous offenses including hit and run, driving while revoked, violating pretrial conditions, failure to appear, and failure to register as a sex offender."

Deputies served Douglas on his multiple outstanding warrants and also charged him with shoplifting, possession of controlled substances, and attempted fleeing from law enforcement, according to the sheriff's office. He was held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Douglas was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday morning in Stafford General District Court and a preliminary hearing was set for Sept. 24, according to court records.

The fleeing from law enforcement and shoplifting/altering merchandise less than $1,000 in value charges are each Class 1 misdemeanors. If convicted, Douglas faces a potential penalty of up to 12 months in jail and/or fine of up to $2,500 on each charge, according to state law.

If convicted on the possession of Schedule I/II drugs charge, which is a Class 5 felony, Douglas could be sentenced from one to 10 years in prison, according to the Code of Virginia. However, the court may impose a jail sentence of up to 12 months and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

While in court on Tuesday, Douglas was also arraigned on an outstanding warrant in Stafford County for failing to appear at a June 12 hearing, according to court records.

Douglas is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday in Prince William General District Court on two failure to appear warrants and a charge of violating the condition of his release, according to court records.