An Ocala man was apprehended after pocketing $21 worth of hot dogs and hamburger meat from Family Dollar.
James Earl Booker, 60, entered Family Dollar, 400 N Main St., around 6:35 p.m. Friday, according to a Wildwood Police Department arrest report.
He proceeded down the canned food aisle to the cooler section, where he chose two packages of what seemed to be hot dogs. He went to the freezer department and grabbed two rolls of frozen hamburger meat before continuing down the washing aisle. According to the investigation, the store manager stepped out of the back area to observe a roll of frozen hamburger meat fall from Booker’s trousers to the floor.
He laughed as he walked toward the front of the business. The store manager informed the cashier that he was still inside the store, contacted law enforcement, and began analyzing security footage, according to the complaint.
Booker had squatted down and half moved out of camera range before returning to the coolers. He had goods falling out of his cargo pants, and he returned it. He then placed a packet of hot dogs in his right pant pocket, according to the complaint.
Booker then strolled past the shoe section, to the cashier, and out of the store. He passed through all points of sale without paying for the $21 in items. Law officers later scoured the area and found Booker along the CSX railroad tracks, where he was apprehended, according to the report.
Booker was arrested on charges of petit theft and lodged into the Sumter County Detention Center. The bond was set at $500.
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