Two men who reportedly ran from Walmart yesterday afternoon allegedly carrying hundreds of dollars of stolen merchandise were quickly tracked down by law enforcement.
The first suspect was taken into custody in the Kmart parking lot by Batavia Police Officer Chris Camp, who spotted the second suspect running across Lewiston Road and in between the Town of Batavia Fire Hall and Baker's Frontier Kitchens.
Deputies Chad Minuto and Timothy Wescott jumped a fence behind Baker's and pursued the suspect down Colonial Boulevard.
A citizen was able to help locate the suspect after seeing him run into the back yard of a residence on Colonial.
Wescott suffered some minor cuts going over the fence, was checked at UMMC later, and is fine, according to Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble.
Taken into custody were Phillip William Czaja, 27, of Drake Street, Oakfield, and Jarell JT Jones, 22, of Lewis Place, Batavia. Both were charged with petit larceny.
Jones was also wanted on an arrest warrant out of Genesee County Family Court. Following an arraignment in front of Judge Adams, he was committed to Genesee County Jail for six months.
Jones allegedly stole $179.88 in merchandise from Walmart. Czaja was allegedly found in possession of $256.76 in stolen merchandise.
Czaja was jailed on $200 bail.
