Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Carl Neal Lewis, 60, was arrested yesterday and charged with felony petit theft after allegedly stealing 19 Gator shirts, Tide Pods, and t-shirts so he could sell them to buy crack and pay his rent.

At about 1:30 p.m. on August 31, a Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) at the Butler Plaza Walmart (2900 SW 42nd Street) saw a man buy four Tide Pods containers and leave the store; the man then returned to the store, picked up four more Tide Pods containers and walked through the self-checkout section without making any attempt to pay for the laundry soap. The LPO reviewed surveillance video to verify that the man did not pay for the laundry soap.

A few minutes later, the man came back in and picked out a backpack, 19 Gator shirts, and four more Tide Pods containers before going to the crafts department and concealing multiple t-shirts in the backpack. He again went through the self-checkout area without making any attempt to pay for the merchandise. When he tried to leave the store, the LPO intercepted him and escorted him to the loss prevention office, where he was identified as Lewis. The LPO reported that $668.53 in merchandise was recovered.

Post Miranda, Lewis reportedly said he has a crack habit and is two months behind on paying his rent. He said he intended to sell the laundry soap and shirts to cover his rent payment.

Lewis has been charged with petit theft, third or subsequent offense, a felony. He has at least two theft convictions, both out of Broward County. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $10,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.