| The Daily Jeffersonian
BYESVILLE — A village resident accused of shoplifting merchandise from a Main Street gas station in Byesville Thursday morning is also accused of breaking into the clerk’s car in search of change to pay for the stolen Pop Tarts and apple juice.
The 36-year-old suspect is facing two misdemeanor counts of theft and one count of criminal damaging for allegedly smashing the driver’s window to gain access to the Buick parked next to the building at the gas station.
He was served with his warrants Thursday and released from the Guernsey County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in the Cambridge Municipal Court Monday to answer to the charges.
According to Guernsey County sheriff’s reports, deputies were dispatched to the station at 6:29 a.m. Thursday after the clerk reported a male stole items from the store before smashing the window in his vehicle.
Deputies located the male asleep in the driver’s seat of the Buick on arrival. He was removed from the vehicle and searched for weapons.
The man reportedly told deputies he had driven to the gas station and was waiting for a friend. When asked about the broken window, the man reportedly told deputies he could not have done that because he would have remembered doing it.
Officers noted the man appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance, as his pupils were dilated and his speech was slurred. He nearly passed out multiple times while speaking with deputies and they had to yell at him to wake up.
United Ambulance was requested at the scene to evaluate the man who was also bleeding from an injury to his right hand.
The clerk told deputies the man entered the store and tried to purchase the Pop Tarts and apple juice, but didn’t have any money.
He left the store with the items and advised the clerk he would be right back. He returned moments later with a small amount of change that was insufficient to pay for the merchandise.
He then allegedly exited the store and smashed the window in the clerk’s Buick. He again returned to the store with some change, but it was also not enough to finish the purchase.
The man returned to the Buick and sat down in the driver’s seat before passing out.
Deputies noted the vehicle’s center console was damaged during the incident and items from the console were strewn about in the vehicle.
The incidents were reportedly captured on video surveillance footage at the business.
The suspect was transported by United Ambulance to Southeastern Med in Cambridge for treatment. He was treated in the emergency department and later released.
The incident remained under investigation by the sheriff’s office.
