Justin Worden
/ photo: UPD
UTICA -- A Utica man is accused of shoplifting after allegedly stealing tea from a local store, and telling the clerk “I owe you”.
Early Friday morning, 22-year-old Justin Worden of Riverside Drive in Utica was arrested by Utica Police and charged with petit larceny. Police say around 1:25 a.m. Officer Joseph Cimpi was dispatched to the Good n’ Easy market on Whitesboro Street for a report of a larceny. A store employee told police that Worden entered the store, took a six pack of Twisted Tea, and tried to leave without paying for it, telling the store employee “I owe you.”
When the clerk tried to stop Worden, he allegedly told the employee “Come on, if you want to get beat up.” Worden then allegedly left the area in a car. The clerk then showed police surveillance video of the incident.
Police say later on Friday morning, the same officer was dispatched to Downer Avenue for a report of a fight. When Cimpi arrived, he found Worden, who was recognized from the Good n’ Easy surveillance video. Worden was then positively identified and charged with petit larceny.
