A Newton man was arrested and taken to Jasper County Jail on Thursday morning after a theft at a grocery store and a short chase.
According to the Newton Police Department, at about 9:57 a.m., employees at Hy-Vee reported a man had tried to steal some food items. When an employee confronted the man — later determined to be Anthony R. Strange, 20, of Newton — he threw some of the items at the employee and fled.
Newton Police caught up to the suspect after he entered Walgreens. An officer confronted the suspect, and he pulled away from the officer and fled the building on foot.
Strange made it across East 12th Street North, where he was captured in the parking lot used by the Goodwill store and Sombrero restaurant. He was taken to Jasper County Jail.
The officer who confronted Strange in Walgreens received a small cut on his arm. Strange was not injured.
Strange is charged with aggravated theft, interference causing injury and possession of drug paraphernalia — all misdemeanors. He is being held on a $3,300 bond.
Newton Police Lt. Ron Cook praised the Hy-Vee staff for noting details about Strange.
“Employees did a great job of relaying to responding officers what the suspect was wearing and where he fled to,” Cook said.
Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532
or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com