An employee at the South Elbert Street Dollar General called 911 and offered a description of a shoplifter.
A pair of officers responded, and a man matching the description was spotted near the intersection of Elbert Street and Underwood Road. When the first officer got out of his vehicle, the suspect began running around the patrol car in a circle and forcing the officer to chase him. The second officer then moved in, but the suspect “pushed him away” and began running again. A longer foot chase ensued, but the suspect ultimately was tracked down and detained.
Timothy Jerome Bell, 58, was patted down, and the officers “discovered 3 packs of Almond Joys in his left pants pocket and 1 box of oatmeal cream pies in the leg of his pants.” A bag of Reese’s Cups also was discovered later at the county jail. Bell was charged with one count each of shoplifting and obstruction of an officer. A felony shoplifting charge was based on multiple prior shoplifting convictions.
IN OTHER MILLEDGEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS:
• An Ollie’s cashier fell for a scheme. A man, still unknown, initially walked up to the register to pay for one item, according to the incident report. He paid for the item with a $100 bill, and the cashier began making change. Added the incident report: “The male pulled out another $100 bill and asked for additional change. The male then put two $5 bills on top of the change she had already sat down, which confused (the cashier).” Multiple exchanges of cash occurred, and the man ultimately swindled the store out of $280.
• Break-ins, thefts, and/or entering autos were reported in the 1420 block of Elbert Street, the 320 block of Liberty Street and the 600 block of North Clark Street.