Woodman's Employees Chase Man Who Stole $700 in Meat for 'Drug Money'

OAK CREEK, WI — A man that tried stealing more than $700 in meat from Woodman's to sell for drug money was run down by police after store employees chased him on foot.

According to police, On Sunday, April 9, Oak Creek police officers were dispatched to the Woodman’s grocery store located at 8131 South Howell Ave.

According to dispatch, store employees had observed Gordon Barnum steal several items from the store. According to the Woodman’s Meat Department Manager, Barnum was seen loading his cart with expensive meat and seafood items without any apparent regard for quality or prices. According to the receipt, the total value of the items located in his cart was $775.93.

Several employees chased Barnum diagonally through the Meijer’s parking lot towards West Drexel Avenue.

According to police, an Oak Creek police officer was nearby Woodman’s, in the area of the Drexel Town Square, and was flagged down by several Woodman’s employees who directed his attention towards the fleeing Barnum, who was about 50-100 yards in front of the employees near the location of 300 W Drexel Ave.

The officer approached Barnum in his squad car, exited the squad, and then ordered him to stop. After he ordered him to stop, An officer saw an object fall from Barnum's hand and further saw a clear white plastic baggie appear near his feet, his criminal complaint said.

According to police, in the area where Barnum stopped, and where police saw the item drop and appear at his feet, police recovered a clear plastic baggie which was found to contain 12 separate smaller baggies. One of the baggies contained approximately 1.7 grams of a white chunky material, suspected cocaine, the other 11 baggies also contained suspected cocaine weighing approximately 1.5 grams.

According to his criminal complaint, Barnum told the arresting officer that he was going to sell the meats for “drug money.”

Barnum has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, and felony retail theft.

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