I didn't take anything. I'm sure of it. I promise you. I'm trying to >> Where's your receipt that shows what you just paid for? >> On Friday, January 2nd, 2026, officers with the Washington Police Department responded to a Dollar General after an employee reported that a man had walked out of the store with merchandise without paying. Officers quickly located a man matching the suspect's description nearby and began investigating the reported retail theft. >> He's gone. >> Were you just down at Dollar General? >> No. >> Okay. We're looking for a guy with a tan jacket, blue pants, and beard that was at Dollar General that just stole some items. Wasn't you, right? >> [laughter] >> Okay. I'm just checking. You just kind of fit the description a little bit, so you don't have any in here? >> I'm good. >> I I understand. I understand. So, all right. If you see someone in there that match that description, let me know. I'm going to go down there. All right, guys started laughing at me. So, almost put your bag on the table. >> I didn't steal anything from there. >> Okay. They say you did. Why don't you walk over that way? >> What did they say? >> They said they said you stole stuff. >> This is all No, this is mine. This is mine. >> You have receipts for that? Is that the stuff you took from the store? >> I do. I have >> What all did you take and not pay for? >> Uh I didn't take anything except for >> What did you not pay for? She's not lying to me, right? Right? I know there's cameras and everything, right? So, what did you take and not pay for? >> Uh Can Can you guys look at the video and then that'll tell you the general area where it's at? >> No, you know what you took. So, tell me what you took. >> I I didn't take anything. I'm sure of it. I promise you. I'm trying to >> Where's your receipt that shows what you just paid for? >> Sorry. >> I'll tell you what. Why don't you do me a favor? Put Put your hands behind your back. >> back here? >> Put your hands behind your back or I'll put them for you. Right now you're just being detained, okay? She's the manager is saying that you stole stuff. You're saying you didn't. You don't have a receipt for any of it. We're We're going to We're going to go over there and we'll just sort this all out and if it's a mistake, we'll let you go. If it's not, well we'll have a discussion, okay? Stop moving. All right, just so you know, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can't afford one, one will be provided free of any charge to you before any questioning if you wish. Do you understand your rights? >> Yes, sir. >> Officer Thomas, tell me what happened. >> I went in there to >> To where? >> I went in Dollar General to get a couple things. The reason I was in there so long is I was waiting for the bus to come around. It only comes once once an hour. >> Once an hour, right. >> So I was I was kind of hanging around. >> Okay. >> So that wasn't you know wasn't looked upon too nicely, but uh >> So what happened? >> Um I don't know. I had I had a a bunch of stuff that I had sat down and I even left my book bag at the front door. You know what I mean? >> Okay. >> Just just so they knew I wasn't wasn't uh stealing anything. And I know my uh receipt had been there for >> Okay. So you have all you have all your stuff without receipts on you, >> Huh? >> So we're going to go talk to her. >> Yeah. And whatever >> Well, I'm just asking. You're telling >> Dollar General >> You're telling me that you did not steal anything from her. Cuz if she tells me something different and the video shows something different, you're probably going to jail. >> I'm not saying >> me the truth, we'll figure it out right now. >> that that I stole something, I didn't, but I can see how she might because I was fiddling around a lot and uh when I came out and came back in she started being real like mean to me and stuff. So I heard her and got done. I mean I I was there long enough just to piss her off, I guess. You know what I mean? >> Okay. >> But >> mean, as far as as far as I'm more happy to just >> And so, all this stuff that's in here, you pay for every single piece part of it, right? >> This is most of it is from home. >> What's that? >> That's like cat food for my cat. >> Did you buy that there? >> Uh no, that that's got to be old. >> Okay. What about this? >> Those >> That's That's pretty new. That looks like it's from Dollar General. >> That's my charger. >> Okay. Here's another Why do you have these things? >> That That bin out there has got a bunch of toys in it. >> Well, we're going to take this over there and we'll we'll sort this out, okay? >> Yep. Here, you want me to just You want me to carry those separately? >> No, I'll just I'll put them there and I'm going to have her look in it. As long as it's okay with you. I mean, this is your phone. She doesn't have to look in that, right? >> Right. And what what what if I say no? It's It's like >> Well, I mean, I appreciate your cooperation. >> I just want to make sure you don't have weapons or anything, right? >> Okay. >> How about on you? Do you have any knives, guns, anything like that? >> Uh >> No, I'm not asking you to grab it. >> the outside. >> I'm just asking you if you have >> know. I don't know. >> You don't know. >> I don't know. I know there's my lighter, money, any number of things. There's nothing in my pocket. I had The only drugs I have is medicine in my wallet. Describe that. >> Is this your pot or something? >> It was good for three to 10 hours. And clean for 10 hours. >> Wow. That's That's moving on up, isn't it? >> 10 years and I still get up. There you go. You keep with these up here on my thanks. I use those >> Well, you're not reading anything right now. It's going to be in your bag. It's not going to be lost. I'm not your brother. I'm Officer Thomas. You want to call me Officer Thomas, sir, whatever, that's fine, but I'm not your brother. All right. Let's go out to my squad car. Sure. Let's go over here. We'll go around on the other side. >> On the I'll sit on the >> other side. All right. Go ahead and have a seat. We're We're going to go over to Dollar General real real quick. We're not going >> What's the problem? You need a belt? >> Can you keep your pants up, please? >> That'll work. Thanks. >> You're still You're still telling me you didn't steal anything at all, huh? >> I'm telling you officially that obviously I walked out of the store with some things that I didn't pay for. >> Well, what was that? >> That had to be that Slinky and >> The Slinkys and the juice? >> The juice, that's what it was. >> Okay. Put your foot in there. If I slam that door, your foot's going to hurt and I don't want to hurt you. Let's see what she she can say what he took. Hello. What all did he take? >> I have that other than the only thing he actually paid for was the jug of Snapple. >> Okay. >> That's the only thing. I know I seen a Slinky, but I don't know what all he had in that bag. >> Do you guys sell that Slinky here? Is that what he stole from here? >> when he started pulling things out of the bag, yeah, he pulled out the big Slinky that we have in the back. He was in the dollar the dollar aisle when he started putting his bag down and stuff and she was back there, she said, and she looked like he was going to camp out, but yeah. >> So, he did pay for the Snapple cuz he says he stole it. >> The Snapple is the only thing he paid for. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah, but he when I was talking >> He has a big Slinky, he has a little Slinky, he has a little like like lizard >> Yeah, that's all he The only thing he actually paid for was the Snapple. >> Okay. I just don't know what's in his bag that is not that is his and is not yours. I don't know. >> Right. That's All of the toys obviously cuz that's the section he was in. >> Yeah, he started pulling things out and then someone went out there at the store and they're like they're calling the cops like so he was just pulling items out of his bag after he just told me. >> Yeah. >> I was waiting to see what >> He was trying He was trying to mess with him when I got him at the laundry mat. >> And I was I was trying to see what else he was about to pull out and then he, you know. >> Okay, so who saw it? You You saw it? >> him. You saw it? All right, I'll I'll take your name then. >> And I saw you in here. >> She's probably already in the system anyway. >> I took a picture just in case. I didn't get everything. She took bad pictures. >> Oh, perfect. Yeah. Can you send me that picture? >> Yeah. >> All right. Sounds like you might have a warrant. Um 309 120, so we'll be getting we'll be taking away. Let me get that stuff out for you. Okay, so is it okay for me to show her the items in here? She said you She said you paid for the juice. >> Yeah, we we we I realized that two hours after we walked in. >> She said you paid for She said you did not pay for the slinky. She's got a picture of you taking the slinky. So, what else is in here? >> Aren't the slinkys clearance like clearance? >> They're They're still not free. They might be >> I'm not excusing anything. >> No, no, no. >> I'm So, I'm offering simply explanations. >> Okay, so can I open it? I saw on camera. >> You're more than welcome, but >> Okay. All right. I'll be right back with you, okay? >> Well, hey, if Is it what I'm saying is if she is worried about what she worried about? >> She She wants to know what else you took that and I don't know what all in your bag is yours or not. So, I'm just going to I with my camera going so it records everything, I'm just going to have her take a look. She She knows that the slinkys are theirs that you stole those for sure. So, and then you have that little lizard thing in there and some other things too that came out of the clearance aisle. Okay, so I'm going to show them to her and I'll be back and tell you what's going on. >> Just tell her Just tell her that >> You're You're You're there. >> And I know I got to go whatever you know >> Wait, but I'd like to avoid any smart charges or anything. >> All right, sit tight. Sit tight, I'll be right I'll be right back. >> All I'm saying is if ask her if I give her give her some money, will she >> She doesn't want that. I'll be right back. >> I know that. And that light make a right and then >> Oh, nice. >> [laughter] >> That's all right. He can wait. All right, so let's see here. So, you know, that's all That's all there. That's all the stuff there. >> Yeah, I think he's >> All right, so obviously he paid for the Snapple you said, right? Okay. So, this he did not. Correct? Which I would imagine this one he did not. >> Correct. >> Do you guys sell that, too? Is that cat food? >> That is air >> Okay. How about this dude? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Dude, it looks like he was trying to steal stuff. >> Yep. >> That's I don't know what that is from. That's gone. That's look might be old cuz he's not >> That's for the small the small >> spring, okay. >> Yep. This is for an extension cord. I don't think he had that. >> I think that might be it. He had a little cigarette stuff. All right, I'll put this back in here. He give me Do you have Are you able to do like a receipt or something showing how much the total value was I can or just to tell me? Then you can take care of him. I'll be dealing with him. Thank you. >> In the end, the suspect was taken into custody as the investigation concluded. Officers confirmed the stolen merchandise with store employees and the unpaid items were recovered. Based on the conduct documented in the body camera footage, potential charges could include retail theft, shoplifting. Final charging decisions rest with prosecutors. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.