A Leesburg man was arrested on a bicycle after he fled Walmart once he was spotted stealing batteries and mouthwash.
Officers responded to Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Boulevard, regarding an individual who took batteries and deodorant without paying around 7:05 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The business told dispatch that they would like to prosecute and trespass the individual, later identified as 43-year-old Andrew Shona Meredith, due to him stealing from the store before.
With officers on the way, dispatch advised that Meredith vacated the premise on a silver bicycle headed northbound on U.S. Highway 27/441 toward Fruitland Park. Dispatch contacted the FP Police Department to request assistance from their officers. They found Meredith riding his bicycle near U.S. Highway 27/441 and Palm Street and placed him into handcuffs until officers with the LPD arrived, the report said.
Once at the scene, the officers asked Meredith if he had any form of identification, and he told them it was in his wallet. He was also asked if he knew why he was stopped to which he stated something about a theft. He was then read his rights, informed of the allegation and told he would be escorted back to Walmart so law enforcement could continue investigating, the report said.
A search of Meredith’s person was conducted before he was placed in a patrol vehicle. A brown glass vial containing a white powdered substance was found in his front left pocket. This tested positive for methamphetamine and was later weighed on a scale at 0.7 grams, the report said.
Also located in that same pocket was small cylinder of Advil red pills. Underneath them at the bottom of the bottle was a small pink plastic Ziploc baggie with more powdered substance. It tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 3.3 grams, the report said.
None of the alleged stolen items were found on Walker, but he was still transported by an officer to Walmart so the investigation could continue. The officer contacted a loss prevention officer once they got to the store, the report said.
The LPO explained that while she was watching the active video cameras in her office, she observed Meredith select a pack of Duracell batteries from the battery rack. As he walked around the store, he was seen by a fellow LPO who was off duty and saw him select a small bottle of Crest Scope mouthwash. The off-duty LPO observed Meredith in the home goods trying to open the battery pack and conceal the items on him, the report said.
When Meredith noticed the off-duty LPO, he put the battery package in an unknown area within the store. The Duracell batteries were valued at $6.34 and mouthwash at $2.50. The total for the items was $8.84. The LPO completed a sworn written statement, initialed “yes” for prosecution and was issued a victim’s rights brochure, the report said.
The officer searched Meredith’s backpack and found a black Hohner zipped container carrying two clear glass pipes with black residue in the front pocket. He was still unable to find the stolen items. He advised the LPO of his findings, and she believed all the items were tossed from Meredith’s possession when he noticed the off-duty LPO because he was familiar with them, the report said.
Meredith was arrested on charges of petit retail theft (less than $750), possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia (possession or use). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $4,000.