A suspected shoplifter ran out of a Mesa Walmart, only to find his getaway car missing and police waiting in the parking lot.
On March 8, he went to a Mesa Walmart store near Country Club Drive and Baseline Road with two friends who waited outside for him in the car, court documents show. Witnesses say Terrance Crowley loaded a shopping cart with $2,000 worth of products and tried to walk out without paying.
When Walmart employees confronted Crowley, police say he threatened them with a 6-inch filet knife.
Crowley allegedly told the workers, "Back off and don't even think about it."
Crowley ran out of the store pushing the cart, but he had no place to go. The getaway car was gone.
Instead of his friends, Crowley found two Mesa police officers who happened to be in the parking lot at the time.
Store employees got the attention of the officers who quickly arrested Crowley.
After his arrest, Crowley reportedly told the officers, "The two police cars were not in the (parking) lot when (I) entered the store."
Crowley is facing charges of aggravated assault and theft.
