- The Washington Times - Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Police in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, arrested a man this week they say waited in a bathroom at a local Walgreens or five hours so he could gorge on snacks and smokes for free.

Around 3 a.m. Monday, the New Smyrna Beach Police Department responded to a business alarm and arrived at the Walgreens, which closed at 10 p.m. Sunday. 

Officers found Christopher Morgan standing in the front of the business, and claimed in a post on Facebook that they saw Mr. Morgan take a pack of Newport cigarettes from behind the counter.

Surveillance footage from the store purportedly shows Mr. Morgan entering the Walgreens and the bathroom inside at 9:40 p.m., before then showing Mr. Morgan leaving the restroom at 2:42 a.m.

In addition to the Newports, NSBPD accused Mr. Morgan of helping himself to Ghirardelli chocolate, Reese’s, Dr. Pepper, chips and Tostitos spinach dip.

After helping Mr. Morgan unlock the doors to the store, police promptly arrested him. When officers asked what time it was, Mr. Morgan said “probably 11 o’clock” before then telling officers that he “came in here to use the bathroom,” per body camera video posted by the NSBPD on Facebook.

Mr. Morgan resisted being put into a patrol car and then spat on an officer once inside the car, police said.

He has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, resisting an officer without violence, battery on a law enforcement officer and larceny, for which Mr. Morgan has two prior convictions.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.

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