WPD: Man caught shoplifting pushes police officer

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Police say a man who was caught shoplifting by a worker at a Wilmington Walgreens over the weekend also faces charges for assault on a law enforcement officer.

Wilmington Police say just after 11 p.m. Saturday, an employee at the Walgreens on Oleander Drive spotted a man in the store by himself stealing things and putting them in his pockets. That’s when officers say the worker called police.

Police say the man, later identified as Antonio Stephen Murphy, 45, took off running across the street toward the Toys-R-Us shopping center. They say as K-9 units helped in the search for Murphy near the scene, he pushed one of the officers down on the ground.

Officers say they found and arrested Murphy a short time later. They say Murphy is charged with resisting arrest, assault on a law enforcement officer, shoplifting and misdemeanor larceny. He was taken to jail and later released on bond.