Ruston Police arrested a Dubach man Monday for a series of shoplifting incidents at the Walmart Neighborhood Market.
Officers responded to a criminal trespass complaint at the Walmart on West California Avenue about 10:30 a.m. Monday. Store staff reported Christian A. Phillips, 27, who had been previously banned from the premises for shoplifting, was in the store. Officers were also told Phillips was wanted on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court on a theft charge.
Phillips was observed at a checkout register by officers who detained him and took him outside. He was informed he was being arrested for trespassing and for the outstanding warrant. Phillips told the arresting officers he had concealed flowers inside his pants that he took from Walmart without paying. The flowers were recovered and returned to the store.
Walmart staff provided video of Phillips committing thefts from Walmart on two previous occasions. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for criminal trespass, three counts of theft by shoplifting, and the warrant for theft less than $1,000. Bail was set at $8,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
