Store clerk dragged while chasing shoplifting suspect
CENTER TWP — A department store employee was dragged by a getaway vehicle Sunday while trying to stop a shoplifter, authorities said.
The alleged thief and accomplice got away but state police later arrested them hiding in one suspect's home.
Jailed in the Butler County Prison on robbery and other charges are Scott A. Locke, 47, and Kimberly A. Weibel, 36, both of Penn Township.
Police said Locke just before 4:15 p.m. walked into the Boscov's at Clearview Mall in Center Township where he took $865.50 worth of clothing items.
Clyde Richardson, a loss prevention officer at the store, confronted Locke outside, according to court documents.
The employee grabbed the defendant in an attempt to stop him from getting into a Jeep Grand Cherokee that Weibel was driving, police said.
“While (Richardson) had ahold of Locke,” a police affidavit said, “Weibel began to drive the vehicle pulling the (employee) to the ground and causing an injury to his left leg.”
Authorities did not specify the extent of the victim's injuries.
The defendants drove away. Police went to Locke's home on Beacon Light Lane where he and Weibel allegedly hid before troopers found them.
District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Locke and Weibel each on felony charges of robbery and retail theft, and a misdemeanor charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution.
Additionally, Locke was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a summary charge of harassment. He and Weibel are in prison on $50,000 bail and $40,000 bail, respectively.
Read more about this story in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.
