A Milton-Freewater man with a warrant out for his arrest was jailed Wednesday after a shoplifting incident at Hastings.

Walla Walla police were responding to a theft report at Hastings at 3:30 p.m., when they spotted Steven Ray Farrens, who matched the description of the suspect, Officer Tim Bennett said.

Farrens, 39, was not the shoplifter, but he took off when officers tried to talk to him and officers had to chase him for several blocks, he said.

When they caught him, they learned he was wanted on a warrant from the Department of Corrections for escape from community custody, Bennett said.

Farrens also reportedly was found with 40 grams of marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, including several syringes, Bennett said.

Farrens was booked into the Walla Walla County jail on suspicion of possessing meth, possessing marijuana with intent to deliver and possessing drug paraphernalia.

The suspect in the Hastings theft was not found.