He tried to shoplift from the wrong store. Started race through Pasco

Pasco police say a shoplifting turned into the Winter Suburban Olympic Foot Race on Monday evening.

Artemio Joey Chapa, 31, of Kennewick, reportedly tried to walk out the door of Griggs Department Store with merchandise stowed inside a car seat and blanket.

When the security buzzers at the door went off, the race started. A team of red-vested Griggs employees chased Chapa until police Sgt. Chad Pettijohn caught him near the intersection of 10th Avenue and Bonneville Street.

“The gold medal goes to the Griggs employees and their excellent endurance in helping catch the alleged shoplifter, as Pasco PD had the easy part, when the suspect was already tired and winded from the event,” police said.

Not only did Chapa lose the race, police said he was carrying illegal drugs.

He was booked into the Franklin County jail on investigation of possession of methamphetamine, along with misdemeanor charges for shoplifting and obstructing an officer.

This story was originally published December 12, 2017 at 12:33 PM with the headline "He tried to shoplift from the wrong store. Started race through Pasco."