A former small town police chief was apprehended for shoplifting at a Walmart in one of Florida’s prominent retirement communities, as reported by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Christopher Radz, aged 59, was arrested on October 5th at a Walmart in The Villages, where he was charged with larceny petit theft, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 35 Orlando. The incident occurred when one of the store’s loss prevention officers observed Radz picking up multiple items from a display, placing them in a Walmart plastic bag, and leaving the store without attempting to pay for the items. Radz, who was read his Miranda rights, chose not to speak to the arresting deputy, as reported by Villages-News. He was later taken into custody at the Sumter County Detention Center on a $500 bond.
Radz, who retired from the Alsip Police Department in Illinois after serving for 32 years from 1985 to 2017, started his career as a dispatcher and gradually climbed the ranks until he was appointed police chief in 2009. He held the position until his retirement in 2017. The village of Alsip, according to the latest census population data, has a population of just over 18,000 people.
Current Chief Jay Miller expressed surprise at the news of Radz’s arrest, stating, “The news surrounding his arrest is something I’m surprised to hear, as it’s out of character for the Chris I worked with for more than a decade.” Chief Miller also emphasized that the reported actions are not representative of Radz’s overall well-being. He hopes that Radz can address any potential issues that may have arisen since his retirement while the Florida courts ensure justice is served.
Radz has since been released after posting bail of $500.
