Richmond County Sheriff Eugene “Gino” Brantley went shopping Friday and picked up a shoplifter in the process.
While shopping around 5 p.m. Friday at the Walmart on Wrightsboro Road, the sheriff was alerted by a loss prevention manager to a shoplifting in progress, according to a press release. The manager, Crystal Halford, told him the male suspect had just exited the store without paying for merchandise and fled on foot toward North Leg Road near the WifeSaver restaurant.
“Without hesitation, Sheriff Brantley pursued the individual on foot, apprehending him on a side street near the east side of the store,” the release says.
Responding deputies, including Lt. Steve Fanning, took custody of the suspect, identified as 51-year-old John Henebery.
“It’s all in a day’s work,” Sheriff Brantley stated in a press release. “The men and women working the streets deal with this type of crime every day. So when I have the opportunity to be involved and prevent crime or apprehend someone breaking the law, that’s what I do. We must bring safety and security back to the streets of Augusta, Georgia — one day at a time.”
Henebery was charged with shoplifting and booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, where he remained Sunday night, unable to make a $1,300 bond.
The suspect appears to have no previous record in the Augusta area, but he was listed as a victim last month of a robbery. He said his roommate assaulted him and stole his wallet and phone because he thought Henebery had taken his vehicle. The roommate was later charged.
