Man Accused Of Fighting Security Guards During Botched Shoplifting At Walmart

An Eastlake man is accused of tussling with security guards Friday at the Mentor Walmart when one of the guards spotted him trying to steal from the store.

The incident started when a security guard from the Chardon Walmart called the Mentor store to say they just had trouble with a couple of men and he thought the same people might come to the Mentor Walmart.

Then, at about 2 p.m., a man came to the store who matched one of the descriptions. Specifically, he had tattoos similar to what the Chardon guard had described, Mentor Police Lt. Tom Powers said.

One of the security guards kept an eye on the man -- who is 24-year-old Casey White -- as he went around the Mentor Walmart. He saw White take a bookbag and then fill the bookbag and his jacket with DVDs, Powers said.

White then left the store without paying.

When two guards stopped White outside of the store, he told them, "If you're not cops, I'm not coming with you," according to Powers.

White then drew back his arm to throw a punch, but the guards were able to grab him and wrestle him to the ground, Powers said.

The guards and another shopper who got involved when he saw the scuffle held White until the police arrived to arrest him.

White tried to steal about $667 worth of merchandise from the Walmart, Powers said. Police charged him with felony counts of theft and robbery.

The other man that the Chardon security guard called about was in the parking lot waiting for White, Powers said. However, because he didn't try to take anything from the store, he was not charged with a crime.

White will be arraigned Monday morning in Mentor Municipal Court.