New Bedford Man Allegedly Steals from Wareham Walmart, Tries to Get Ride from Off-Duty Cop

WAREHAM — On Friday, May 4 at about 10 a.m., Wareham Police responded to Walmart on the report of a shoplifting in progress. The caller reported a male subject was pushing a cart out of the store with a stolen television.

Upon arrival, Officers Zina Kelsch and Jon Verhaegen determined the male suspect had left the Walmart parking lot, and was now at Wareham Crossing, near Lowe’s. Furthermore, they received information that off-duty Wareham Police Officer Aaron Pacheco was with the suspect.

Officer Pacheco was in plain clothes shopping at Lowe’s, when he observed a male nervously asking customers for a ride. Officer Pacheco immediately sensed something suspicious, as he saw the television in the carriage with a Walmart clearance tag on it.

In an effort to confirm the TV was stolen, Officer Pacheco told the suspect he would give him a ride, as soon as he purchased an item inside Lowe’s. Continuing to covertly monitor him, he contacted Walmart and confirmed the description of the suspect and the TV.

As he left the store, the suspect became agitated and said they had to leave right away. At that point, the other officers arrived, and the suspect was placed into custody. He was then identified as 37-year-old Scott A. Mixon of 65 Reynolds Street, No. 3, New Bedford.

Mixon was brought to police headquarters and later transported to Wareham District Court for arraignment on the charge of shoplifting, third offense.

--Wareham Police