Grocery store shoplifter attacked store employees, police say

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After shoplifting and then fighting with grocery store employees, a man was arrested Friday for robbery, theft and assault, according to a Juneau Police Department press release.

At about 5:37 p.m. Friday, JPD officers responded to a call reporting an incident at Superbear IGA near the Mendenhall Mall, according to the release. Officers arrived to find 50-year-old Juneau man Ronald Wheat, the release reads.

Superbear employees spoke to officers, according to the release, saying they saw Wheat shoplifting inside the store. JPD Lt. Krag Campbell said it’s not known which specific items Wheat was taking. Store employees saw Wheat leave the store with the merchandise, they told police, and then tried to recover the stolen goods.

When employees approached Wheat, they told police, Wheat began attacking them. One of the employees suffered minor injuries, the release states.

Officers arrested Wheat for second-degree robbery (a class B felony), third-degree theft (a class A misdemeanor), fourth-degree assault (a class A misdemeanor) and disorderly conduct (a class B misdemeanor), the release states. Wheat was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center and held without bail.

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