An anonymous tip received by Laurens City Police last night led to the arrest of a man wanted for allegedly stealing merchandise from Wal-Mart and firing Pepper Spray at a store employee who was running after him. Greenwood County Deputies reportedly located the man at the location indicated by the tip. They picked him up and turned him over to Laurens Police, who placed him in the Johnson Detention Center early this morning.
41-year-old Ioannis Georgeou Tsantakis of 122 Beulah Church Road, Lexington was charged with Shoplifting 2nd Offense and with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree. Detective Leann Riggott states that the subject took possession of merchandise valued at $720 from Wal-Mart on November 1st without paying for it. She further alleges that while he was fleeing from Wal-Mart he sprayed Pepper Spray towards a victim who was trying to stop him from leaving with the stolen merchandise. Mr. Tsantakis was being held in the county detention center, pending arraignment on the charges.