Man, 23, faces 8 charges in assault at Bashas’

A 23-year-old man was arrested Friday after he cut a Bashas’ store manager with a box cutter after he was accused of shoplifting, according to police. 

Raymond H. French was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, shoplifting concealment, possession of dangerous drugs and resisting arrest, police said. 

Maricopa police responded to a report of a person with a knife at the supermarket at 21044 N. John Wayne Pkwy. at 3:12 p.m. 

Related: Bashas’ employee cut with box cutter, suspect arrested – InMaricopa

Police said French tried to leave the store with $154.07 worth of alcohol and toiletries in a duffel bag without paying, according to a probable cause statement. A store manager tried to stop French from leaving and take the duffel bag from him. 

French and the store manager began wrestling, according to police. At one point, French allegedly used a yellow box cutter to cut the store manager’s right arm.  

According to the police, several customers tried to detain French before he was able to free himself and leave the store.  

Officers encountered French in the store’s parking lot, and said he began to flee before he was eventually placed in handcuffs. 

French told police he had “amphetamine” in his sock, according to the probable cause statement. Officers located a small baggie containing a white crystal substance, which later tested positive for methamphetamine, in French’s left sock. Officers also located a box cutter in French’s pocket, police said. 

French was booked on the charges and taken to Pinal County Jail, where he remained Tuesday in lieu of $10,000 bail, according to online records. He has a court hearing scheduled for Friday. 

Read more public safety stories here.