Randall Burton-Courtesy of Columbus Police Dept.
COLUMBUS, Ind. – Officers with the Columbus Police Department (CPD) arrested a man suspected to be shoplifting on a felony weapons charge on Friday.
CPD was dispatched to the eastside Walmart, at 735 Whitfield Dr., shortly before 3 p.m., where store security told them the suspect, Randall Burton, 40, of Hope, was using a knife to cut open packages and had placed items, including a set of headphones, in his pants, per CPD.
When law enforcement confronted Burton, he allegedly became uncooperative. After a brief struggle, the officers detained the suspect and secured the knife, along with the supposed stolen headphones. A loaded handgun was also reportedly found in his possession, according to police.
CPD conducted a records check and found Burton was not allowed to have the weapon due to previous felony convictions. The suspect was then arrested and transported to Bartholomew County Jail (BCJ) on preliminary charges of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, resisting law enforcement, and theft.
