Man Charged With Multiple Burglaries, Attacking 70-Year Old Clerk

August 21, 2012

A 51-year old Escambia County man is now behind bars on numerous burglary and theft charges and for allegedly beating a 70-year old store clerk.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Craig Lasalle Rutledge of Pine Forest Road made forced entry into the businesses — including Publix on University Parkway, Winn Dixie on Mobile Highway, and Murphy’s Gas on Pensacola Boulevard –to steal large quantities of cigarettes and liquor.

During one of these thefts he resisted the employee of the store, at which time he committed a battery on the 70 year old store clerk in an attempt to get away, deputies said.

In another business burglary, Rutledge allegedly entered David Bowen Sporting Goods and stole 20 pairs of tennis shoes.

“Rutledge even resorted to pretending to use a walking cane in order to appear disabled distracting the clerk’s attention and enabling him to commit the thefts,” Deputy Matt Baxter, spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.

Rutledge is charged with six counts of grand theft, five counts of burglary, battery on a person 65 years of age or older, resisting operator,  knowingly driving while license suspended, and for  bad checks.  He  is being held in the Escambia County jail with a total bond of $116,159.56.

Comments

2 Responses to “Man Charged With Multiple Burglaries, Attacking 70-Year Old Clerk”

  1. William on August 21st, 2012 9:07 am

    >>Do we really need bail set that precisely?

    It was $116,000 on the various theft related charges plus $159.56 payoff/bond for the bad checks = $116.159.56

  2. Ben Thar on August 21st, 2012 8:57 am

    A total bond of $116,159.56?

    Do we really need bail set that precisely? Is he more of a flight risk if his bail is set at $116,000.00?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News