Cops: Beer and Chips Leads to Riverhead Man's Arrest

A can of Pringles worth $2.75 and a cold beer that cost $2 led to a very hefty bail for one Riverhead resident.

Southampton Town police report that on Thursday at around 11:20 p.m., a clerk working at the Shell Gas & Convenience Store in in Riverside allegedly observed a man stuff a can of Pringles worth $2.75 underneath his shirt and exit the store.

According to police, a few minutes later, the same subject came back into the store and made his way to the beverage section, snatching a 24-ounce can of Colt 45 beer worth $2 and running for the exit.  

The clerk locked the door to detain the criminal and called 911. Southampton Town detectives arrived within minutes and observed the subject inside the store, allegedly kicking and punching the glass entry door in an attempt to exit.

When the clerk opened the door for police, the intoxicated subject allegedly continued hitting and fighting with the detectives in attempts to flee and resist arrest.  

Police arrested the suspect, Ollie James Booker, 49, of Riverhead, and charged him with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

Booker was held overnight and arraigned at Southampton Town justice court Friday morning. He was remanded to Suffolk County jail in lieu of $2500 bail.