VERO BEACH – A homeless man has a temporary residence – the Indian River County Jail, where he remains after he allegedly stole two Oreo ice cream sandwiches from Target.
The Sheriff’s Office was called out to the store after Target’s loss prevention officer saw a man walk out of the store with two of the treats, without paying for them.
The man, identified as Joseph Thomas Tuer, 31, was found in the median on 58th Avenue eating one of the sandwiches, according to the arrest report.
“Am I really going to jail for a couple candy bars?” Tuer asked the deputy while he was being transported back to the store for identity confirmation.
The value of the ice cream sandwiches was $1.99 total, the arrest report states.
The loss prevention officer told the deputy that Tuer is known to the store as having previously shoplifted.
The incident occurred Thursday, Aug. 17, shortly after 3 p.m. Tuer faces a misdemeanor charge of shoplifting/retail theft and is in jail in lieu of $500 bail.
