The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office reports a shoplifting that took place yesterday, Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at the TARGET in Stafford Market Place.

At approximately 2:45pm yesterday, deputies from the Stafford Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the TARGET located at 1090 Stafford Market Place in reference to a shoplifting. A Loss Prevention Officer from TARGET had witnessed a male subject cutting wireless headphones from a secure rack within the electronics department and concealing the merchandise in a backpack he was carrying. The subject was attempting to exit the store at the same time Deputy B.J. Reed was entering. The subject saw Deputy Reed and fled back into the store. Deputy Reed gave chase and attempted to gain control of the suspect. Deputy A.C. Wolford arrived and assisted Deputy Reed. The suspect violently resisted as Deputies Wolford and Reed attempted to place him under arrest. The suspect assaulted both deputies during the struggle. Deputy R.T. Kulbeth arrived and together with Deputies Wolford and Reed they were able to get the suspect handcuffed. A short time later while still in the store the suspect was able to slip one of his hands from the handcuffs. The suspect fled on foot out of the store with deputies in chase. The suspect ran across the TARGET parking lot, down an embankment behind the store and across the southbound lanes of I-95. The suspect was ultimately apprehended in the center median of I-95 by Deputy A.S. Smith and his K-9 partner Lobo along with Sergeant J.D. Floirendo.

The suspect was identified as Austin Jacob Baxter, age 22 of no fixed address. Baxter was charged with one count of Grand Larceny, one count of Petit Larceny (3rd or subsequent offense), two counts of Assault and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, one count of Obstruction of Justice, one count of Fleeing from a Law Enforcement Officer, one count of Escape, one count of Possession of Burglarious Tools and one count of Destruction of Property. Baxter was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond.