Published: May 10, 2008 01:29 am            

Two teens accused in Wal-Mart robbery

PALESTINE — Palestine police arrested a pair of teenage boys and charged them with robbery and evading arrest in connection with a disturbance at the Wal-Mart Supercenter late Wednesday night.

According to Sgt. Larry Boyer, officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart, 2223 S. Loop 256, at 11:36 p.m. Wednesday in reference to theft and an assault that allegedly occurred during the theft.

According to employees’ accounts, a Wal-Mart associate confronted a 16-year-old male he found stealing car speakers.

“He observed a male pry open the inside exit doors on the merchandise side carrying two speakers valued at $70,” Boyer said. “He was attempting to get out of the outer doors when (the store associate) confronted him and told him he could not get out. The subject came toward (the associate) and threw a single closed-fist punch, which hit his left jaw area.”

Other store employees stepped in and restrained the suspect on the floor for several minutes, Boyer said, but when employees allowed the suspect up off the floor, he allegedly attempted to go after the employee again.

“He pushed (the employee) with both hands to the chest,” Boyer said. “With the force, (the employee) fell backwards and he ... run out the door.”

A 14-year-old male became involved when he attempted to help the 16-year-old, Boyer said.

“Another store employee told the second suspect to back off, at which time (the suspect) pushed him with both his hands in the stomach, allowed the first subject to get to his feet and both subjects ran out the door as the officers arrived,” Boyer said.

In addition, the younger suspect pushed and threatened a 51-year-old female employee, Boyer said.

“He pushed her twice with his fists and threatened to beat the hell out of her,” Boyer said. “That makes it a robbery, not a theft, because of the assault of people.”

A large group of store employees met officer Gary Rayford outside of the entrance on the grocery side of the store, Boyer said, and pointed out the 16-year-old, a large male wearing a hooded sweatshirt and jeans.

The 16-year-old suspect fled toward the general merchandise side of the store when he saw Rayford, who gave chase, and ignored Rayford’s commands to stop, Boyer said.

The first store associate helped chase the suspect to the entrance on the general merchandise side of the store, where the suspect turned and took an aggressive stance as if to fight, Boyer said, but Rayford was able to take him to the floor and Sgt. Richard Johnson, who had arrived to assist, helped handcuff the 16-year-old.

At that point, the store employees pointed out the second suspect, the 14-year-old male, who also was wearing a light blue hooded sweatshirt-style jacket and who ran outside the store and toward the back, Boyer said.

Johnson and officers Matthew Bond and Mike Mitchell ran behind the store after him, Boyer said.

“Officers did not see any subject behind the store but they observed an opening in the fence adjacent to the Sycamore Lane Apartments,” Boyer said. “Officer Bond checked the Sycamore Lane Apartments and observed a male subject run across the roadway from the fence line at Wal-Mart, wearing a light blue hooded jacket.”

At that point, Bond and the other officers chased the subject on foot and stopped him as he attempted to enter an apartment, Boyer said.

“When they ordered him on the ground, he refused and resisted and tried to jerk his arms loose,” Boyer said. “They took him to the ground and put him in handcuffs. The subject continued to resist, pushing against the officers, trying to get away from them.

“They placed him against the police (car) and searched him for weapons. He continued to resist and at one point he kicked Sgt. Johnson in the leg.”

The 14-year-old was taken back to Wal-Mart, where store employees identified him as the second suspect, Boyer said.

Neither subject would identify themselves to officers, Boyer said, but the mother of the 16-year-old identified him to police.

The 16-year-old was charged with robbery, evading arrest/detention, criminal mischief $500-to-$1,500 for tearing up the store doors and with failure to identify.

The 14-year-old was charged with robbery, evading arrest/detention, failure to identify and resisting arrest, search or transport. In addition, the 14-year-old was taken to Palestine Regional Medical Center for a blood-alcohol test, which showed twice the adult legal limit of alcohol in his system, Boyer said.

Both teens were taken to the Anderson County Juvenile Detention Center.

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Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com

        

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