Authorities in St. Mary’s County are investigating a theft case from a local grocery store.
On Monday, November 29, a St. Mary’s County deputy was on patrol in the First Colony Shopping Center in California around 3:30 p.m. when a theft was reported.
The complainant, an employee of the Giant Food, had exited the store in an attempt to confront a male shoplifter. The theft suspect fled the store and was last seen getting into a Dodge Intrepid. The complainant gave the officer on patrol a description of the suspect and vehicle.
Investigation revealed the suspect identified as Paul Solomon Smallwood, Jr., 52 of Lexington Park, had entered the grocery store and picked up a hand basket and placed numerous feminine hygiene products and other items inside the basket and then fled the store with unpaid items.
Smallwood was apprehended moments later on Miramar Drive with the basket of unpaid items inside the vehicle. An unknown male and female were also in the vehicle at the time of the apprehension, but were not charged.
Smallwood is facing theft charges.
