A recently fired Wal-Mart employee was arrested after he reportedly returned to the store and stole a piece of outdoor equipment.
John Edwards Manning, of 13350 SW Hwy. 484 in Dunnellon, was charged with second-degree petit theft (first offense) after being arrested at his home on Sunday. He also had an outstanding arrest warrant for driving without a valid driver’s license.
A security employee at the store, located at 9570 SW Hwy. 200 in Ocala, told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that Manning, who was fired on July 6, needed to be trespassed but had left the location prior to the deputy’s arrival. The employee said she completed a report on Manning for retail theft committed around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. She said she saw Manning in the store Sunday and called 911, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The employee said she was alerted Saturday by an employee that Manning left the garden center with unpaid merchandise. Surveillance video showed Manning entering the store at 12:28 p.m. and going directly to the garden center outdoor equipment aisle, where he picked up a Hart 40-volt Weed Eater and blower combo pack valued at $178. The video showed Manning placing the item in his cart and pushing it out of the store, past all points of sale, without paying for the merchandise, the report said.
The security employee provided Manning’s address to deputies, who responded to his residence and arrested him. After being shown pictures from the security video, Manning confirmed it was him, but he denied committing the theft despite the video evidence, according to the report.
Manning was taken to the Marion County Jail, where will be held until Aug. 8 on the outstanding warrant. He’ll answer to the theft charge in Marion County Court on Sept. 18.