A Fruitland Park man was arrested after being pulled over with $936 worth of stolen cookware and food from Walmart.
At 2:25 p.m. Thursday, deputies stopped a white pickup truck for speeding northbound on U.S. Highway 27, according to an arrest record from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The driver, Benjamin Paul Smith, 38, was also suspected of stealing from Walmart, which is located at 550 U.S. Hwy. 27 in Clermont.
He admitted that he was the culprit before the deputies began examining his truck. In the truck bed, they discovered numerous bags of chips, a box of Pampers diapers, a Ninja air fryer, a Ninja slushie machine, two 24-packs of Heineken beer, a Tender bag, a box of Friskies canned cat chow, and a Frigidaire ice maker. According to the complaint, an orange cylindrical container contained a burnt glass pipe as well as cocaine.
Smith explained that he had attempted to depart the area and return to Lady Lake before being apprehended. Another guy from Lady Lake had given him the merchandise, and the objective was to sell it and share the proceeds. According to the complaint, he declined to identify the person or the Walmart from which the items were stolen.
A deputy then went to the Walmart in Clermont to speak with an asset protection employee about the theft. She reported that Smith was spotted roaming around with a full shopping cart and then left the store without paying. The products associated with Smith totaled $936.85, according to the report.
The items recovered from Smith totaled $946.85, according to the report. They featured a Food Saver vacuum sealer, a Frigidaire ice maker, a Ninja air fryer, a Farberware 17-piece knife block set, a Ninja blender, and a Ninja griddle.
Smith was eventually charged with grand theft (more than $750 but less than $5,000), possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of cocaine. The Nevada native was booked into Lake County Jail and released after posting a $6,000 bond.
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