A local man was arrested for theft at Ruston’s Neighborhood Walmart last Tuesday after store staff spotted him shoplifting.
James Gibson, 29, of Ruston, was charged with theft by shoplifting and disturbing the peace by appearing in public while intoxicated on October 8.
Ruston officers responding to the call found Gibson nearby. He matched the suspect description and was stopped. Officers judged him to be extremely intoxicated. Four cold unopened beers were found in Gibson’s backpack. Gibson said he got them at a gas station but later said he bought them at Walmart. He could not provide a receipt.
Gibson was taken back to Walmart for further investigation. Store staff said Gibson placed beer cans in his backpack and took a case of beer to the checkout. He was denied service because he did not have identification. The case was left at the store but Gibson did not remove the cans in the backpack. He left $5.50 on the cash register but it did not cover the cost of the beer taken from the store.
Gibson was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Bail was set at $2,000.
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.
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