Organized Retail Theft Effort Stopped, One Charged, One On Loose

Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said the charge stems from a call of suspicious subjects at the Bethalto Walgreens, that came in at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Employees reported that Yates along with a second unknown male had unlawfully entered a secured area of the store, which leads to where they maintain their high-end liquor.

Shortly after officers entered the store, the unknown male exited the restricted area with numerous bottles of liquor in his hands and began fleeing from officers, the chief said.

"While fleeing the B/M recklessly ran past shoppers, one of which had a 1-year-old child in their shopping cart," Chief Dixon said. "As he ran past the cart one of the bottles, he was carrying struck the child in the face and head. The child was examined at the scene and later seen by a physician and at this point fortunately appears to only have minor injuries. Officers chased this fleeing subject through the parking lot to a vehicle, which he entered and recklessly fled the area in. Officers located Yates shortly thereafter near Burger King and took him into custody."

The chief continued: "Yates is in the custody of the Madison County Jail, in lieu of a $50,000 bond which was set by The Honorable Judge Janet Heflin.