Anchorage Daily News

An accused shoplifter who got busted by an undercover security guard at a Northway Mall grocery store Friday evening is facing two felony charges after he allegedly wrestled the guard's handcuffs away and used them to beat him, according to Anchorage police.

John Mitchum, 31, was being held on felony counts of robbery and assault, police Lt. Paul Honeman said.

"He was trying to steal some meat and one of the guards tried to stop him," he said. "He was resisting and got the guard's handcuffs, then hit him in the back of the head."

About 10 police cars and medics responded to the call that came just after 5:30 p.m., when employees of the Carrs grocery store at the mall reported an altercation between the security guard and a shoplifter who was trying to walk out the door with a basket full of about $170 worth of meat, police Sgt. Ted Smith said.

Store clerk Chantel Rushing said she saw the shoplifter leave the store with the security guard on his heels.

"The secret security guard ran after him and threw him back inside," Rushing said.

One they were back inside the store's entrance, the shoplifter repeatedly reached inside his jacket, threatening to use a knife, she said. Rushing ran back into the store to call police and get help, she said.

Mitchum didn't actually have a knife, but during the ensuing scuffle he beat at the security guard's head until several other employees were able to subdue him, Smith said.

By the time police arrived, Mitchum was being restrained by the employees and had given up his efforts to break free, Smith said. Police cuffed him and seated him in the back of a squad car while the security guard, who was conscious but lying against the wall in the entryway, was treated by medics for wounds on the back of his head.

An ambulance took him to a hospital, where he got about 15 stitches for multiple cuts on his head, Honeman said. His injuries did not appear life threatening. Police did not release the guard's name.

Mitchum was being held in lieu of $30,000 cash bail and a third-party custodian required for two felony charges of second-degree assault and robbery.

Find James Halpin online at adn.com/contact/jhalpin or call him at 257-4589.

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