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Police use 'non-lethal force' to nab suspected shoplifter

Man facing charges following incident at grocery store and then at nearby mall Friday morning, say OPP
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A Tay Township man is facing charges after allegedly shoplifting from a Midland store and then trying to enter vehicles Friday morning.

At about 7:45 a.m., security at Foodland contacted police to report a shoplifter. Southern Georgian Bay OPP determined the identity of the suspect, who was known to police.

About an hour later, police responded to a report of a man attempting to enter vehicles and locked retail stores in the Mountainview Plaza area. Officers located the suspect in the parking lot near County Road 93 and determined he was the suspect in the incident at Foodland.

Police said the suspect resisted arrest, resulting in “a form of non-lethal force” being used to apprehend the man.

John Neal, 37, has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, possession of an identity document, causing a disturbance, and resisting a peace officer.

He was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody pending a future court date.