Sheppton man facing assault, robbery charges for shoplifting incident at Redner’s
TURKEY RUN – A Sheppton man is facing felony aggravated assault and robbery charges after police say he pushed a store manager confronting him for shoplifting and threatened to kill responding officers Monday afternoon.
John Gustites, 41, of 414 Franklin Street, was arraigned Monday and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 bail.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Shenandoah Police Patrolman Hugh Clinton and filed in Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker’s courtroom, police were called to the Redner’s Warehouse Market at the Gold Star Plaza for a reported assault just before 2pm Monday.
The manager reported being assaulted by a man, later identified as Gustites, after he saw the man placing several items in his backpack.
Police said the manager asked Gustites “Where are you going with all that?” At that point, Gustites began yelling at the manager and then threw a box of magazines at him. Gustites also spat in the man’s face and pushed him multiple times.
Witnesses provided a description of Gustites and police began searching the Turkey Run area for the man, who they said started walking towards Pioneer Road.
Patrolman Cody Applegate saw Gustites walking along the Gold Star Highway and officers confronted him at JM Auto Sales along the highway.
They asked if he had been at Redner’s, and he refused to answer. He then provided a false name and date of birth and was then told he was under arrest for the incident at Redner’s.
Police said he spat in Clinton’s face and kept pulling away from arresting officers, telling them he would kill them all.
During the struggle, Clinton and Applegate received minor injuries.
Patrolman Mark Hysock knew the man from prior encounters and provided his real name.
Police said he had seven pens and two Arizona grape drink cans which were stolen from Redner’s.
Gustites is facing three counts of felony aggravated assault, two counts of felony robbery, three counts of misdemeanor terroristic threats, one count of misdemeanor false identification to law enforcement, and one count of summary retail theft.
He will appear before Kilker at his Shenandoah courtroom on Sept. 28.
About Author
