Police say a man facing numerous retail theft charges walked into the Staples at Cressona Mall and walked out the back of the store with two printers.
On Oct. 8, State Police say they were called to Staples, in North Manheim Township. At the store, police say they learned that an unidentified man walked in the front entrance of the store shortly before 3 p.m. the previous day.
The man – later identified as Michael Felton, 53, of Harrisburg – allegedly grabs two printers and walks out of the store through the back exit/receiving doors.
Police say they reviewed surveillance footage from Staples and the GIANT grocery store next door and saw a black male wearing a black hat, a black, white and gray collared shirt, black pants, and black shoes committing the printer heist.
Photos obtained from that surveillance video were used to positively identify Felton as the primary suspect, police say.
Contact was made with police in Derry Township, Dauphin County, who say they were also investigating Felton for similar activity in that area.
According to court and state prison records, Felton was incarcerated at SCI-Laurel Highlands on Nov. 13. After he allegedly committed this theft at the Cressona Mall Staples, Felton spent eight days in Dauphin County Prison on two felony charges of retail theft and one felony charge of conspiracy to commit retail theft.
He was released on his own recognizance on Oct. 28 but records show he’s now at SCI-Laurel Highlands.
Police in Schuylkill County have charged Felton – who also goes by several aliases, including Homas Bryan, Thomas Bryant, Eric Durden, and Bryant Thomas – with a felony count of retail theft and misdemeanor charges of defiant trespass and receiving stolen property.
A preliminary hearing date has not been scheduled locally.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...