An Odessa man was arrested Thursday, four days after being accused of swinging what witnesses thought was an ax handle at a Big Lots manager.
According to an Odessa Police Department report, dispatchers received a 911 call around 4:30 p.m. March 24 from the Big Lots in the 3100 block of Andrews Highway.
When officers arrived, the store manager said she was standing at the front of the store when a man later identified as Gregary Latral Webster, 37, began to leave with $7 in snacks without paying for them, the report stated.
The manager said Webster told her the cartel was following him and would pay for the items, the report stated. When Webster went outside with the snacks, his backpack and his wooden axe handle, the manager told officers she began to take a picture of him.
The manager told officers Webster then swung the handle at her head, narrowly missing it, before fleeing, the report stated.
A co-worker corroborated the manager’s story, the report stated.
Based on the co-worker’s description of the man, which included facial tattoos, officers realized who he was because they’d dealt with him the day before in the same area and while he was wearing the same clothes, the report stated.
In addition, Webster also told officers the day before he was being followed by the cartel, the report stated.
A warrant for aggravated robbery was issued at that point.
According to another OPD report, a North Dixie Boulevard DK convenience store clerk called police four days later to report a man with facial tattoos tried to come into the store with a backpack and when she told him to leave it by the door, he threatened her and customers, grabbed some items and left without paying.
Officers found the suspect at 35th Street and McKnight and realized he was Webster despite the fact he gave his name as Chris Webster, the report stated
Video footage showed Webster had grabbed nearly $17 worth of items, including three muffins, two bags of chips and a fountain drink before leaving the store, the report stated.
Webster was booked into the Ector County jail on the aggravated assault warrant, suspicion of theft with a previous conviction and giving a false identification.
He remained in custody Monday night on surety bonds totaling $52,000.
