The store manager told police that he saw the suspect, later identified as Vantice Beshears, select three items; Claritin Allergy medicine, Nexxus Shampoo, and a whole submarine sandwich and hide them under his clothes. The manager said Beshears then bypassed the registers and exited the store to the parking lot.
According to reports, the store manager followed Beshears to the parking lot and identified himself as the store manager, but Beshears kept walking and eventually crossed NE 36th Avenue. The store manager saw Beshears squeeze through a fence of a closed business and passed that information on to police.
Beshears was located in the fenced business and arrested, he was released from jail the next day.
On January 30, 2014 police were contacted by the store manager who stated that someone had called the Publix store he manages and threatened to sue him (The Manager) if he didn’t drop the charges against Beshears. The manager told the caller he could not discuss it and hung up. Approximately 20 minutes later another call came in, this time the person was claiming to be a police officer, the caller left a message advising the store manager needed to call him back “ASAP”. The caller did provide a number for a return call.
Beshears was questioned at his residence where he admitted to officers he was trying to intimidate the store manager into dropping the charges. Beshears also admitted to contacting the Publix corporate office in an attempt to have the charges dropped. He denies identifying himself as a police officer.
A warrant was issued for Beshears arrest and he was arrested later that day.
He is now being held at the Marion County Jail on charges of Obstructing Justice-Harassing a Witness and Violation of Probation.
Beshears has previously served jail time for Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries and DUI Causing Serious Bodily Injury to Another.
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