Minden police have wrapped up a shoplifting case with the arrest of a second and third suspect reportedly involved.
Molnar
Robert Molnar, 44, of the 400 block of Goodwill Street in Minden, was the first to be arrested Thursday, Feb. 4, for felony theft of goods.
Tony Wooldridge, 45, of the 400 block of Goodwill Street in Minden, was later arrested Monday, Feb. 8, on a warrant for felony theft of goods. He was also arrested for possession of Schedule II CDS (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
James R. Andrews II, 31, of the 200 block of Stanley Street in Dixie Inn, was also arrested Monday for possession of Schedule II CDS (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper says Molnar’s arrest stems from an incident Thursday, Feb. 4, when Officer First Class Clint Smith, Officer First Class Shawn Jenkins and Officer Donald Brice went to Walmart in reference to the reported theft.
“Once officers got there, the officer with loss prevention indicated one fled on foot and the other in a vehicle,” Cropper said.
At the time, officers did not locate Wooldridge.
Cropper says officers went back inside the store and the loss prevention officer provided a receipt for the items paid and a printout of the items unpaid.
The chief says because Molnar has multiple charges of theft on his record, and was convicted of at least two, this theft charge becomes a felony. According to the police report, Molnar has previous theft charges from other states, one from 1997 and three from 1998.
On Monday, Captains Marvin Garrett and Dan Weaver, along with Officer First Class Chris McClaran, Jenkins and police detective Lt. Chris Cheatham, initiated a traffic stop on Bayou Avenue, after observing Wooldridge and Andrews get inside a vehicle. Wooldridge was known to have active warrants, prompting the traffic stop, Garrett said.
During the traffic stop, officers discovered what appeared to be three grams of methamphetamine allegedly packaged for resale on Andrews’ person. No narcotics or other illegal items were found inside the vehicle.
Garrett says the suspected methamphetamine had a street value of $350.