TERRELL, Texas — Pro-active police work is being credited for stopping a theft of over $800 from Walmart in Terrell which resulted in two adult arrest, future charges for a minor, and recovery of the stolen property.
TERRELL, Texas — Pro-active police work is being credited for stopping a theft of over $800 from Walmart in Terrell which resulted in two adult arrest, future charges for a minor, and recovery of the stolen property.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at 1:56 a.m., an on-duty Terrell Police Department officer was conducting a security check at several local businesses in the 1900 block of West Moore Avenue, according to Terrell Police Department Captain A.D. Sansom.
The officer observed three individuals behind Waffle House unloading a Walmart shopping cart full of merchandise into a vehicle.
Sansom says this drew attention to the individuals because they were not in the Walmart parking — which would have been nearly empty at this time — and because they were unloading the cart behind a restaurant that is quite a distance from the Walmart parking lot.
“The officer made contact and began a routine investigation into their suspicious conduct,” stated Sansom.
After a check, the officer determined the two adult individuals showed active warrants for traffic violations and assault. A 14-year-old who accompanied the adults was not found to be wanted and released to an un-involved family member, according to Sansom who said the juvenile was first reported to not be involved.
The two adults, identified as 34-year-old Chetney Sneed and 35-year-old Damion Northcutt, both of Terrell, Texas, were taken into custody on the warrants as the officer continued the investigation into the merchandise.
“Aided with Walmart’s elaborate and very high quality video system, videos were reviewed and the offense became very clear as well as the juvenile’s active role in the theft,” stated Sansom.
Sneed and Northcutt were subsequently charged with organized retail theft. Northcutt was also charged with failure to identify or give false information.
“The continued investigation revealed the 14-year-old male played a major role in the commission of the offense and charges are being prepared,” stated Sansom. “A juvenile directive to apprehend is forthcoming.”
Over $800 worth of merchandise was recovered and returned to Walmart.
