Man Almost Tasered in Wal-Mart For Resisting Peace Officer

Keyontae Thomas, 20, of Palatine was charged with retail theft and resisting a peace officer Dec. 18 at Wal-Mart on Golf Road in Niles. Security personnel at the store said that at about 5:30 p.m. he concealed a medication called Extenze, worth $21.97, in his pocket and removed and discarded the bubble packaging and exited the store. The security agent followed Thomas to his car and saw him pull something out of his pocket, and a pill fell on the ground. The security agent said he brought Thomas back into the store, but that he refused to enter the loss prevention office. 

Police arrived and told Thomas to come with them to the loss prevention office, and he refused, saying he wanted to ask the officer questions right there on the sales floor. The officer placed his hand on Thomas' arm and commanded him to go to the loss prevention office, and Thomas pulled away and refused again. Some of his friends, who were nearby at a checkout register, began yelling that he didn't do anything. The officer grabbed Thomas' neck and arm to take him into the loss prevention office, and he pulled away. Just as the officer drew his Taser, two backup officers arrived and, with force, handcuffed Thomas. who resisted the process by stiffening his arms and drawing them away from his body. 

His court date is Jan. 13 in the Skokie branch of the Cook County courts. 

Two Apple laptops stolen from car

Someone stole two Mac Book Pro laptops, two laptop bags and a Mac Book box containing software, from an unlocked vehicle on Dec. 21. The victim said she left her vehicle in  a parking lot in the 8200 block of Golf Road. The items were valued at between $3,000 and $6,000.