According to a Maplewood Police report obtained from the county prosecutor’s office, a St. Louis man stole liquor from the Maplewood Sam’s Club on consecutive days and was caught by police on the second day. He told police in an interview he is addicted to cocaine.
On July 30, 2015 Sam’s Club loss prevention officers saw Powell in the liquor aisle with a backpack. When he was alone he took two bottles of Ciroc Vodka and two bottles of Grey Goose Vodka and put them in his backpack.
When he walked past all points of sale the loss prevention officers’ attempt to stop him at the door was unsuccessful.
The next day Powell returned to Sam’s Club and was again seen by loss prevention officers in the liquor aisle. He put two bottles of Ciroc Vodka and two bottles of Grey Goose Vodka in his backpack and walked past all points of sale.
When loss prevention officers tried to stop him at the door he dropped his backpack and ran. The officers were able to subdue him until Maplewood police arrived.
Both incidents were captured on security footage. In a Mirandized interview, Powell admitted to police that he is addicted to cocaine and steals from various retailers to sell on the street so he has money to buy cocaine.
Powell was charged with two counts of stealing — third offense, and is being held on a $10,000 bond.