By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Turlock man arrested for theft at Home Depot in Ceres
Placeholder Image

Ceres Police booked a 31-year-old Turlock man for allegedly stealing over $900 in power tools and fighting with loss prevention officers at the Hatch Road Home Depot store Thursday evening.

At 6:23 p.m. police were notified that loss prevention officers were struggling to detain Eric Christopher Gilmore, who tried to leave the store through the garden department’s emergency door. The agent tailed Gilmore after recognizing him as a suspect who was kicked out of the Manteca Home Depot. They saw him pick up three Dewalt power tools, placing one in a shopping cart while concealing the other two into a container.

Gilmore attempted to jump into the bed of an awaiting red pickup, which was parked and waiting for him near the exit. Agents chased after Gilmore, who weighs in excess of 400 pounds, and saw him slide out of the bed as the driver accelerated. Agents attempted to detain Gilmore, but the pickup driver backed up at a high rate of speed and struck one of the agents with the vehicle. Gilmore called out to the driver who stayed for a minute and then eventually fled east through the parking lot. 

Police said Gilmore had a minor abrasions to his face caused when he fell out of the pickup. He was treated by paramedics at the scene before he was arrested and booked on felony charges of aggravated robbery.

One of the loss prevention officers suffered a small cut to his hand and abrasions on his knee from being hit by the pickup.