PACIFIC COUNTY — November 19, 2025
The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office says a 31-year-old man is now in custody after a shoplifting incident escalated into an assault and robbery Monday afternoon at a local store in Ocean Park.

According to the sheriff’s office, the incident happened around 2:32 p.m. on November 18 at Jack’s Country Store on Vernon Avenue. Deputies say the suspect attempted to leave the store without paying for roughly $84 worth of merchandise. When the store owner confronted him outside, the situation quickly escalated.

Investigators report the suspect assaulted the owner, then assaulted a second individual who stepped in to help. During the confrontation, the man allegedly swung closed fists and threw items at both people in an effort to keep the stolen items and escape.

Because force was used during the theft, deputies say the case legally escalated from shoplifting to robbery.

The sheriff’s office says deputies were able to identify the suspect and took him into custody shortly after. He was booked into the Pacific County Jail on a charge of Robbery in the Second Degree.

The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office stated they remain committed to community safety and will provide further updates as information becomes available.