$12 drink leads to 3 criminal charges

Maricopa Police Department arrested a man accused of stealing alcohol from a local grocery store Saturday. He ended up with three criminal charges. 

Police arrested 24-year-old Jamel L. Burns after he admitted to snatching booze from the store, according to a probable cause statement. 

Cops responded to Bashas’ on a report of shoplifting just before 5 p.m. Employees said Burns used a five-finger discount to grab three alcoholic drinks valued at $12.  

Staff said Burns sat outside at the patio and sipped the stolen beverages. They provided photos of Burns, who fled the scene. 

Around 6 p.m., police found Burns near Goodwill and arrested him. He admitted to stealing one drink from the store, but officers found two others in his backpack.  

Police noted Burns had three shoplifting and burglary convictions in the last five years. 

Burns was booked into the Pinal County jail on three charges of shoplifting, false reporting and drinking in public. 

He faces a year and a half in jail. 

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