Shoplifting Suspect Gets Stitches After Tussle with Oconee Walmart Security Guard

A Greensboro man accused of trying to steal over $600 worth of merchandise from Walmart on Epps Bridge Parkway wound up in the emergency room after tussling with a store security guard.

The incident allegedly occurred on March 18 around 2 p.m., according to a Sheriff's report.  The guard told deputies he saw a man select various items from a display and place them into a shopping cart.  The man then tried to leave the store through the garden shop without paying for the items, he said.

The guard confronted the shoplifting suspect in the fenced garden section and the man agreed to go back into the store.  However, the man became "uncooperative and disorderly" and was quickly escorted back out of the store, the guard said.

At that point the guard said the man began making threats against him and placed his hands in his pockets.

"[The guard] stated that he noticed there were objects inside the suspect's pants' pockets, and he was concerned that he may attempt to retrieve a weapon," a deputy wrote. "[He] advised that he grabbed onto the male suspect in an effort to prevent him from retrieving any weapons.  During that time, a struggle ensued and they both fell to the ground." The suspect was injured above his right eye as a result of the struggle, the deputy noted.

The guard said he tried to hold the suspect, who was attempting to strike him and again made verbal threats against him, but the suspect got away and fled on foot toward Kohl's. A deputy apprehended 18-year-old Dedrek Deion Andrews in the parking lot, according to the report. 

EMS treated Andrews for the small cut, but deputies were told that the wound would need sutures, so he was transported to an area hospital.

The 56 items in the cart, including clothing and household items valued at $630, were returned to the store.

The guard declined to press charges related to the threats allegedly made against him, but a warrant was secured in Andrews' name for felony shoplifting.

Andrews was booked into the Oconee County Jail on March 26, according to jail records.

Don’t miss any Oconee news. Subscribe to Oconee Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

You might also be interested in reading:

• Shoplifting Suspect Accused of Hitting Woman Twice with Car in Oconee Walmart Parking Lot
• Man Threatens Oconee Walmart Employee Over Counterfeit Bills
• Arrest Made in Case of Assault on Oconee Walmart Security Guard
• Shoplifting Suspect Accused of Biting Oconee Walmart Security Guard
• Valentine's Day Brawl at Walmart Lands Three in Jail