Man climbs into store ceiling, causes $10K in damage

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police say a man apparently high on drugs climbed into the ceiling of an East Memphis gas station and caused around $10,000 worth of damage.

The incident happened in April, but Travis Lewis, 40, was booked into the Shelby County Jail on Thursday for vandalism.

An employee at the Exxon Station in the 2900 block of Rhodes Avenue said Lewis entered the store, walked to the back of the business, began removing ceiling tiles, and climbed into the ceiling.

The clerk said Lewis also broke into the door leading behind the counter and started climbing into the ceiling.

When police took Lewis into custody, they said he told them he had taken ecstasy and smoked marijuana. Lewis was transferred to the hospital for a medical evaluation.

Lewis was arrested in February for allegedly having several drugs, including ecstasy, marijuana, and crack, but the charges were dismissed. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

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