Feisty suspect fights Wal-Mart security
A thief fleeing the scene ended up in a brawl outside Wal-Mart over the weekend with customers helping security subdue the feisty culprit.
“It took six or seven to hold him down,” said Gail Campbell of Wal-Mart security, who was one of several slightly injured in the fight which ensued when security tried to stop the 6-foot-1, 150-pound alleged shoplifter.
The incident began when security reportedly observed Chad Allen Russell, 26, trying to steal a pair of shoes. The suspect accomplished the crime by putting a pair of new shoes on his feet while putting his old shoes in the shoebox. He then tried to walk for the exit but was stopped by Wal-Mart security.
It was at that point, Russell began trying to escape, throwing punches and even clawing anyone who tried to detain him. At one point, witnesses said Russell tried to recruit a customer to help him fight off security.
However, the plan backfired when customers outside the store began helping security subdue the man, wrestling him to the pavement and sitting on him until police arrived to take him into custody.
In all, four employees were allegedly assaulted in the scuffle, with some of them going to be checked out at the emergency room. Russell, who was also injured, is charged with four counts of assault and one count of theft.
According to Wal-Mart security, the fight was the exception rather than the rule as most shoplifting arrests happen peacefully and without physical confrontation. Lawmen are not sure what prompted Russell to put up a fight when he was only facing misdemeanor theft charges.