A 67-year-old Leesburg man was arrested after allegedly running out of Walmart with stolen merchandise.
An asset protection agent at the Leesburg store observed Willie Ray Ward placing items including shaving gear and two pairs of shorts into his pants, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. As Ward exited the store the Walmart employee asked him to accompany her back inside. Ward fled, got on a bicycle and rode away. A Leesburg police officer who had responded to the store saw Ward jump off the bike and hide in some bushes next to a Wells Fargo Branch bank on Citrus Boulevard.
Merchandise valued $188.24 was recovered by the officer. After talking to the Walmart loss prevention agent, viewing the video showing Ward stuffing items in his pants and verifying that Ward has 22 prior convictions for theft, Ward was arrested on charge of theft and resisting a merchant.
Ward was booked at the Lake County Jail on $3,000 bond.