Kent Police arrested two men for investigation of shoplifting and added other potential charges against one of the men after he tried running from officers but was wrestled to the ground.
Officers responded at about 3:22 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10 after an East Hill business in the 26000 block of 104th Avenue SE called 911 to report two men had just shoplifted from their store, according to a Monday, Aug. 11 Kent Police news release. Employees provided detailed descriptions and reported both men had fled on foot with some unpaid merchandise.
Two officers in a police SUV saw the men and spun around to make contact. One man fled but officers took a 24-year-old Maple Valley man into custody who reportedly had stolen merchandise in his possession, according to police. The man told police the other man had run towards a nearby bus stop.
An officer saw a large number of people loitering on private property near the 10300 block of SE 256th Street. As officers approached, a man ran across the road causing multiple vehicles to stop to avoid hitting him, according to police. The reportedly ignored commands to stop, so one of the officers began to chase him on foot.
The man reportedly pulled a silver handgun out of his fanny pack but dropped it into the bushes, according to police. The man allegedly resisted arrest but officers wrestled him into custody. Police found a loaded gun.
The 51-year-old man reportedly has over 10 felonies on his record, making him ineligible to possess a firearm. He also reportedly had a bag of bullets, a bag of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in his possession. Officers arrested him for investigation of illegal possession of a firearm, drug possession, trespassing, disorderly conduct (for running in front of vehicles and almost causing accidents) and obstruction of an officer.
Officers also allegedly found the man with ID and credit cards that did not belong to him, according to police.
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