By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Four Colorado residents were arrested in Hays on Thursday after they were reported for shoplifting at a local store.
At around 5:30 p.m., employees in the loss prevention department at Walmart, 4301 Vine, reported they had identified several individuals who had been shoplifting in the store, according to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.
Arriving officers located two suspects in a vehicle, while two others had left the area.
One of the suspects was then located walking in the area and fled on foot from officers, but complied and was detained without further incident after the officer threatened the use of a Taser.
The suspect was identified as Devante R. Gonzales, 27, who was arrested on suspicion of fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer.
The other suspects were identified as Connie N. Medina, 27, Alexis H. Free, 26, and Rene T. Valdivia, 53. All four were arrested on suspicion of drug possession with the intent to distribute.
“When the officers arrived on scene, they were believed to have been involved in shoplifting,” Scheibler said. “The vehicle they were in was pulling a trailer believed to have been full of stolen property.”
While the property could not be easily determined to have been stolen, suspicion of other shoplifting activity led to a search of the vehicle, he said.
During the search, marijuana and methamphetamine were located, according to reports.
Scheibler also said while the four were arrested and remain detained in the Ellis County jail, “they are all considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”