Police: Palmer Man Tasered After Stealing Meat

The luck finally ran out for a Palmer Township man this morning when he tried to walk out of in with $544.57 worth of meat.

According to , Eric William Thompson, 36, of the 1000 block of Camelot Drive had been the target of an investigation – although his identity was not yet known at the time – after he was allegedly seen on video surveillance stealing from Wegmans on Dec. 20, 27, 28 and 29.

With the assistance of loss-prevention staff, police were finally able to catch Thompson in the act around 3:45 a.m. today, Dec. 30, police say.

As Thompson left the store, his cart had six lobster tails and 14 beef tenderloins concealed under a coat, according to the arrest affidavit.

When "he saw officers closing in on him," he pushed the cart into an unmarked police car when  – damaging the front bumper. Thompson had to be subdued with a Taser after trying to get into his car – in an attempt to escape – ignoring officers' commands, according to police.

Thompson was already wanted by the Northampton County Sheriff's Department on a probation violation for retail theft.

He faces a third-degree felony charge of retail theft and will face additional charges of retail theft. Thompson will also face a criminal mischief charge for damaging the police car.

In court documents, on a sheet labeled "bail considerations," and next to words that include "addiction," is the answer, "yes" and "heroin."  The same sheet also states Thompson is bipolar and suffers from depression.

He was arraigned at Northampton County Prison's central booking facility, and jailed after failing to post $25,000 bail.

The above arrest information was supplied by the Colonial Regional Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.