Shoplifter Pulls Knife On Officer, Man Comes To Aid: Police

OAK CREEK, WI — A concerned citizen came to the aid of police after a shoplifter pulled a knife on an Oak Creek police officer during a physical struggle.

Oak Creek police responded to the Woodman's at 8131 S. Howell Ave. just before 5 p.m. on Jan. 6 on a report of a man in the store who had stolen items in the past.

According to reports, the man, described as a man in his late 20s with a brown Carhartt jacket entered the store and was recognized by the store's loss prevention manager from theft incidents from Jan. 2 and Jan. 5.

Reports indicate that the loss prevention worker watched the man walk through the store, placing items into a cart while also hiding more items in his coat. He walked out of the store and tried running away - only to be caught by an Oak Creek police officer who was waiting inside the store.

Reports state that the man resisted arrest, and the officer took the man to the ground. During the ensuing struggle, police say the man pulled out a pocket knife on the officer, only to drop it during the struggle. A concerned citizen then ran up and kicked the knife away from him.

According to reports, the officer pulled out his taser and trained it on the man - at which point he calmed down and allowed himself to be arrested.

During the course of the arrest, officers say they found tools on the man that were used for cooking and injecting heroin.

The total amount of the theft was $126.47, according to reports. Police say they are going to seek three charges of retail theft, disorderly conduct while armed and resisting an officer.

Image Via Oak Creek Patch.com