Palmer Police Taser Boscov's Burglar

Palmer Township police used a Taser to subdue an alleged burglar caught in the act at the Boscov’s department store in the Palmer Park Mall on Monday night, according to court records.

The police department had just obtained Tasers and officers had recently gone through training. It is believed to be the first time the department used Tasers.

Police were called to the mall shortly before 11 p.m. Monday when an internal motion sensor set off an alarm, court papers said.

Once inside the store, police found and were ultimately able to subdue William Shannon IV, 37, of 1295 Poplarwood Road, Bushkill Township. Shannon had allegedly pried open eight cash registers inside the store and taken $1,814 from them, the arrest affidavit says.

The affidavit does not say how Shannon managed to find his way into the store nearly two hours after it had closed for the night.

Shannon initially tried to run from police and then continued to resist once he was caught and an arresting officer tried to handcuff him, court papers say. The affidavit said Shannon was warned to stop resisting before the Taser was deployed.

Shannon was charged with felony criminal trespass, theft, resisting arrest and criminal mischief.

He was arraigned early Tuesday before District Judge David Tidd of Lower Saucon Township and sent to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail.