Police: Muncie man arrested after stealing dance pole from adult novelty store

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man was arrested on a preliminary robbery charge after he allegedly stole a spinning dance pole from a store selling adult novelties.

Charles Stephen Koons, 44, was also preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement. He was being held in the Delaware County Jail under a bond of $22,500.

A clerk at Cirilla's, 601 E. McGalliard Road, told police Koons pushed her down when she tried to confront him after he fled from the store with the pole. The incident was reported on the evening of July 17.

Koons also allegedly struggled with police when he was found at a home along Cornell Avenue.

The stolen dance pole — valued at $189 — was recovered from a vehicle parked outside the home and returned to Cirilla's, according to an affidavit.

Koons reportedly did acknowledge he had stolen the "stripper pole from Cirilla's and that he was willing to give it back," an officer wrote.

The Muncie man denied having shoved the store employee, the court document said, maintaining he had "both of his hands on the stripper's pole box."

The Delaware County prosecutor's office will determine whether formal charges will be filed against Koons.

A theft charge filed in December in Muncie City Court is already pending against him.

The Muncie man was convicted of dealing in a controlled substance in Henry County in 2013, according to state Department of Correction records.

He has also been convicted of crimes including domestic battery, intimidation, invasion of privacy, possession of meth, possession of a narcotic drug and theft.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.