A Columbus man was arrested on multiple charges after leading police on a foot chase through a parking lot in the 2000 block of Merchants Way.
Michael Purdue, 43, 720 Maple St., was arrested at 6:40 a.m. Thursday on charges of theft, resisting law enforcement, possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine, said Sgt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police spokesman.
Police were called to the westside Walmart after an employee reported a man was acting suspiciously after loading expensive electronic items in his cart, including a flat-screen television.
The man, later identified as Purdue, pushed the cart with the items outside a side door that was closed to the public during the early morning hours, which caused an alarm to go off in the store, Harris said.
Columbus Police Sgt. Ron May came around the corner of the building and observed Purdue placing items into a pickup truck that was parked next to the store’s side entrance door, Harris said.
When he saw May, Purdue ran on foot southbound from the store through the parking lot, where he was caught, Harris said.
When officers searched Purdue, they found a wallet and ID card that had been reported stolen earlier this week, and located a small amount of methamphetamine in his pants pocket, Harris said.
Purdue is being held in lieu of $80,000 bond in the Bartholomew County Jail, jail officials said.
