An Indianapolis man was arrested on multiple felony charges Thursday after he was accused of stealing several bottles of alcohol from a Columbus store and then fled from officers while holding a firearm.
Columbus police were sent to Walmart, 735 Whitfield Drive, at 6:10 p.m. about an individual attempting to steal alcohol from the store. The man, later identified as Stephen A. Banks, 32, Indianapolis, fled from the store on foot when officers approached him, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
During the foot pursuit, officers said Banks was holding a handgun as he continued running toward a nearby farm field, Harris said. Banks then dropped the gun during the foot chase and was taken into custody a short time later, Harris said.
Officers recovered the .45-caliber handgun that Banks was holding and noted the weapon was loaded and had a round chambered, Harris said. The officers also found heroin concealed inside Banks clothing, Harris said.
Banks was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of felony possession of heroin, felony resisting law enforcement with a deadly weapon, felony possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon and misdemeanor theft, Harris said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
