A homeless Leesburg man was arrested Tuesday for stealing a sandwich and an alcoholic beverage.
Police were dispatched to a retail theft call at about 11:30 p.m. at the Wawa in Leesburg, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The suspect, 27-year-old Hunter Anthony Whitten, was spotted behind the business walking toward the bushes and eating a sandwich.
Whitten was detained while the officer searched him, but there was no merchandise on his person. However, an empty can of Mike’s Hard Lemonade was on the ground within throwing range. Whitten was then placed in the back of the officer’s patrol car, the report said.
The officer was informed by the store’s supervisor that Whitten came in multiple times that day and would leave without checking out, the report said. At around 11p.m., Whitten entered the Wawa and attempted to take two alcoholic beverages and cheese crackers but was confronted by the supervisor. He put one beverage back and stole a sandwich while the supervisor was on the phone with dispatch. This was the same sandwich Whitten was eating when he was found by police.
Whitten was arrested and charged with felony retail theft with two or more prior convictions. He was transported to the Lake County Jail after completing the booking process with bond set at $2,000.
