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Man charged with theft, assault over $100 in groceries, police say

An altercation took place when an employee of the business and another customer attempted to stop the suspect from leaving with various food items.
2020-08-04 City Police Stock BC
Sault Ste. Marie Police file photo. Brad Coccimiglio/SooToday

A man who attempted to leave a downtown business without paying for about $100 of groceries has been charged with robbery and assault by the Sault Ste. Marie police, according to a news release.

Around 9 a.m. on Feb.21 the accused went into a store in the 100 block of Queen Street East. An altercation took place when an employee of the business and another customer attempted to stop the suspect from leaving with various food items. During the altercation, the accused attempted to bite the customer. The accused was able to get away and ran from the area, but he was found by police a short time later, the release stated.

A search discovered items reported taken from the store, the release continued.

Patrol Services charged Thomas Agawa, 31, with:

• robbery
• assault
• possession of property obtained by crime
• Breach of probation – failing to keep the peace and be of good behaviour x2

The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing.