A routine shoplifting incident at Downtown Market took a bizarre turn when the suspect, instead of facing consequences, called 911 and portrayed themselves as the victim.
The Incident
Police reports state that a 28-year-old individual was caught attempting to steal merchandise by a vigilant store employee around 3:15 p.m. on Thursday.
When confronted, the suspect allegedly refused to return the items, becoming verbally aggressive and insisting that the employee was harassing them.
911 Call Escalates the Drama
Rather than complying, the suspect called 911, claiming they were being assaulted and wrongfully detained. Police arrived within minutes to find the situation already de-escalated by the store staff.
According to authorities, the 911 call itself made false claims of assault, prompting officers to investigate both the shoplifting and the misleading emergency call.
Charges Filed
The suspect now faces multiple charges, including:
- Shoplifting
- Filing a false police report
- Disorderly conduct
Store management expressed frustration over the ordeal, noting that the employee involved was just doing their job.
“It’s unbelievable,” said the store manager. “They got caught stealing and somehow acted like we were the problem.”
Community Reaction
Local residents who heard about the incident expressed disbelief:
- “People really think they can manipulate the system.”
- “Calling 911 after being caught stealing? That’s next level entitlement.”
Police are urging citizens to use emergency services responsibly and reminded the public that shoplifters caught in the act face real consequences.
