Two Philadelphia men were arrested and charged Aug. 9 after they allegedly stole items from Dick’s Sporting Goods at Montgomery Mall.
Montgomery Township Police were dispatched to Dicks Sporting Goods at 1:29 p.m. for a reported retail theft. According to the criminal complaint, the suspects, later identified as 32-year-old Joseph Gibson and 41-year-old Marcus Stewart, entered the store and placed items into a shopping cart. As they approached the register, Stewart reportedly removed all items — with the exception of a Nike shoe box — from the cart to carry them and placed the shoe box at the register.
Gibson said he forgot his wallet and that he would leave to check his vehicle, the report states. He left the store and Stewart said he would pay for the shoes, according to the criminal complaint. Stewart reportedly attempted to make a payment, but his card was declined. After his card was declined two more times, Stewart picked up the shoes as well as other unpaid merchandise he was carrying and exited the store without paying, the report states.
Stewart reportedly entered a vehicle driven by Gibson with the unpaid merchandise, and the two drove away from the scene. Police located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in which Gibson was detained. Stewart allegedly fled on foot toward Park Drive. He was later captured and detained, police said.
The manager was brought to the area of Bethlehem Pike and Park Drive and identified both individuals as the same ones that committed the retail theft earlier, according to charging documents.
Gibson’s vehicle was searched by police who reportedly found various stolen items including, clothes, shoes, and a backpack. All of the merchandise had Dicks Sporting Goods tags on them and had a total value of $706.98, police said.
As a result of the incident, Gibson was charged with misdemeanor conspiracy to commit retail theft and conspiracy to receive stolen property, and Stewart was charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property and retail theft, as well as a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.
Gibson was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard, who set bail at $1,000 unsecured. Stewart was also arraigned by Judge Leonard, who set bail at $1,000 unsecured.
Both men were then released from custody and are currently awaiting their preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 23 at 11:45 a.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrea Hudak Duffy.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
North Wales Man Arrested After Putting Bananas in Exhaust Pipe of Woman’s Vehicle, Police Say
Souderton Couple Accused of Prolonged Physical Abuse of Young Daughter
Hilltown Man Arrested After Entering Random Home, Getting Slapped by Homeowner, Police Say
Registered Sex Offender from Towamencin Federally Indicted on Child Pornography Charges
Hatfield Man Accused of Kidnapping, Assaulting Woman in Telford Borough
