Mobile police speak out on gun incident after alleged smoke shop theft: ‘Never’ do this

UPDATE (2:39 p.m.): Officials with the Mobile Police Department are urging the public to never put themselves in harm’s way after an incident that happened following a reported theft at a smoke shop.

According to the MPD, a citizen who saw a theft at a smoke shop followed the alleged suspects’ vehicle and held them at gunpoint.

Mobile Police Chief William R. Jackson issued the following statement after the incident:

“We ask the public to never put themselves in harm’s way and to contact us immediately in a situation like this. This ensures their safety and also doesn’t put our officers in a compromising situation where they might question if the person holding a firearm has good intentions. This occurred during a busy time of day with many vehicles on the road, but luckily had a quick, peaceful resolution.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — A Semmes teen and an unnamed juvenile were arrested after merchandise was stolen from three different smoke shops, according to the Mobile Police Department.

MPD said in a press release that Christopher Moore, 18, and an unnamed juvenile were taken into custody on Friday, Sept. 20. According to a department press release, their arrests come after officers responded to thefts at two smoke shops.

The first theft officers responded to was at the Smokers Fair (2502 Schillinger Road) at around 5:30 p.m. for a report of a male suspect entering the business and leaving with unpaid merchandise.

As officers were responding to the second reported theft at Route 420 Dispensary (7850 Airport Boulevard, they were notified that a citizen who saw the theft followed the suspects’ vehicle and had two people at gunpoint in the area of Old Shell Road and Schillinger Road.

INCIDENT LOCATION:

The suspects, identified as Moore and an unnamed juvenile, were taken into custody.

Moore was charged with two counts of organized retail theft and one count of second-degree retail theft of property after police said they found he and the juvenile were responsible for a theft that happened at another smoke shop, the Vaping Goat at 740 Schillinger Road.

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