He wanted to be the very best, like no one ever was. One wanted Annandale male’s plan to be like Ash came crashing down in Stafford County when he was arrested.

On August 23rd at approximately 10:53 a.m. Deputy J.A. Brooks was not playing Pokémon Go, for he was responding to Target, located at 1090 Stafford Market Place, for a report of a larceny in progress. Staff advised there was a male currently shoplifting and he was about to leave the shop.

Deputies waited outside the shop for the suspect to pass all points of sale. When he did, Deputy Brooks attempted to stop him; however, the suspect had other plans. He attempted to flee. The fleeing suspect fled only a few feet before giving up and peacefully surrendering. Instead of being detained in a Poke ball, he was detained in handcuffs.

There was no need to call Detective Pikachu, for the incident was all captured on camera. The over $1,100 worth of merchandise was recovered. If you did not guess already, many of the stolen goods were Pokémon cards. Among the sea of water and grass type cards, it appeared the suspect also gathered some Magic: The Gathering cards, and Yu-Gi-Oh! card. Seeing the grand total activated Deputy Brook’s trap card to charge the 33-year-old with grand larceny.

As it turned out, the suspect, Stephen Philpott, was also wanted out of Prince William County for grand larceny, and Stafford County for failure to appear. While Philpott attempted to gather, catch, and draw cards, he instead was able to gather, catch, and be dealt all his warrants. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.