Las Cruces Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the man suspected of shoplifting from Target, and using a stun gun and knife on a store employee during his escape.
Investigators learned that at around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, loss prevention personnel at Target confronted a man suspected of shoplifting electronics from the store. As loss prevention approached the suspect, the man pulled out a contact stun gun and deployed it on the security officer.
The two men engaged in a scuffle near the front of the store before the suspect drew a knife and used it to threaten the employee. The loss prevention employee was not seriously injured during the scuffle.
A Las Cruces Police officer was in the vicinity and saw the suspect running from the store. The officer tried to make contact with the suspect, but the man got into a vehicle and fled the parking lot. The fleeing vehicle ran a red light at Telshor Drive and Lohman Avenue, and was last seen headed south on Telshor.
The suspect is described as white or Hispanic, and in his early 20s. He was wearing a gray baseball cap, gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. He fled the parking lot in a silver Toyota Camry with tinted windows.
The property stolen from Target included earphones, a GoPro camera and a few compact discs. The value of stolen items was estimated at around $475. Investigators determined the suspect used a homemade magnetic device to remove security locks from the merchandise. That device was inadvertently left behind as he fled the store.
The suspect faces charges of shoplifting, aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.
Anyone with information that can help identify the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a tip by text message to CRIMES (274637), keyword LCTIPS. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps identify the suspect.
Information from Las Cruces Police