Berks shoplifting suspect threatens store security with a syringe, police say
Jul. 27—A Reading man pulled out a syringe and threatened a Redner's loss prevention officer who tried to detain him at the Wyomissing store, borough police said Wednesday.
The suspect, Pedro A. Colon, 43, of the 800 block of Moss Street fled to a wooded area where he hid from police, who followed him there, and he refused to come out.
With the help of a West Reading police K-9 team, the suspect was found and taken into custody,
According to the police:
The loss prevention officer saw Colon in the store with food items stuffed in his jackets.
Colon went to the front of the store, bypassing the checkout areas. When the officer approached him near the exit, Colon turned around and headed to the frozen food aisle where he tried to remove the items from his jacket.
It wasn't specified what type of food he stole, but investigators said there were four items valued at a total of $118.
The officer tried to take Colon into custody and escort him to the office, but Colon resisted, reaching his hands into his jacket pockets and removing the needle. He brandished the needle as a weapon, threatening to stick the employee with it, before fleeing the store.
The employee called Wyomissing police.
Colon, who has two retail theft convictions on his record, was charged with robbery, retail theft and simple assault.
After arraignment before Senior District Judge Thomas M. Gauby Sr., Colon was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $25,000 to await a hearing.
