Police: Unidentified Person Shoplifted From Walmart, Assaulted Employee

St. Peters Police are looking for a person who they say stole more than $1,500 worth of electronics from Walmart and then assaulted an employee after being confronted. 

According to police, the suspect entered the Walmart store at about 3:30 a.m. on the morning of Friday, Jan. 11. The suspect headed to the electronics section of the store and selected some stereo equipment. Police said the suspect then left the store with the merchandise in the shopping cart. The suspect made no attempt to pay for any of the items in the cart. 

Police said a Walmart manager saw the suspect in the parking lot and asked to see a receipt. The suspect ignored the request and tried to load the items into his vehicle. The manager then attempted to detain the suspect and a wrestling match broke out. Both the manger and the suspect fell to the ground, but the suspect was able to escape, leaving only his coat behind.

The suspect fled in his vehicle, but police say he returned shortly to retrieve his jacket.

The suspect is described as a white person of unknown gender. Police said the suspect is in the mid 20s and between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10 and 140 to 150 pounds. The person was wearing a black coat and tan boots. The suspect left in a 1990-2000 mid-size black sedan. Police have no plate information, but did say there was tape on the driver's side window. 

Some of the merchandise was recovered in the parking lot. 

The manager was not injured in the incident.

Anyone with information about this case or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective Paul Barish at 636-278-2244 ext. 3531 or St. Peters Police Department at 636-278-2222.