Walmart customer arrested after dropping an item from bag at self-checkout – but it wasn’t theft
A WALMART shopper has gotten in trouble with the law after accidentally leaving a personal item at the self-checkout counter.
Robert James Gerald Centala, 59, was shopping at a Walmart in Michigan, where he left the item after completing his purchase.
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ABC 12 reports that authorities were called to the store after another shopper alerted store staff.
He informed them of a small bag that had been left at the self-service checkout counter and contained a white powdery substance.
Police tested the substance and found that she tested positive for cocaine.
The authorities then checked the surveillance footage of the store and found the perpetrator.
The video allegedly showed the moment the bag of cocaine fell from Centala’s bag.
Apparently, Centala reached for his wallet to pay for his things, dropping the bag of cocaine in the process.
The Alpena County Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Centala, who voluntarily surrendered to the police.
He was allegedly charged with one-off cocaine possession.
The news outlet reports that Centala was released from custody after posting his $2,500 bail.
In recent years, Walmart has experienced various theft problems triggered by the proliferation of self-checkout.
Hoping to contain this situation, Walmart workers have been stricter about their rules.
Lawyers are advising shoppers to be cautious about self-checkout, considering mistakes can sometimes result in criminal prosecution.
“It will be your word against the deal,” said Olga Gutierrez, a paralegal at The Lebedevitch Law Firm, LLC.