A 30-year-old man from Ocean View has been charged with resisting arrest, shoplifting and lewdness after state police said he intentionally inhaled numerous cans of air duster spray Tuesday at a Lowe’s in Bear.
State police said they were called at 4:06 p.m. to the Lowe’s at 1030 East Songsmith Drive to respond to a shoplifter who had passed out in an aisle after inhaling multiple cans of air duster spray. The 30-year-old man had also exposed his genitals and vomited on himself inside the store, according to police, “disturbing other shoppers.”
CRIME:Newark man charged with sexually assaulting Boy Scout in Elkton troop 30 years ago: police
When a state trooper arrived, police said the man rose to his feet and made a fist. He resisted arrest — a felony under state law — and the officer was only able to handcuff him after using a Taser. The man was taken to a nearby hospital before he was charged with seven crimes, including resisting arrest, shoplifting, lewdness and inhaling intoxicating fumes or vapors.
Less than 1% of people over the age of 12 reported using inhalants in 2021, according to the National Institute of Health, and a state police spokesperson said shoplifting inhalants is not a common crime. The only other arrest for a similar crime was of the same 30-year-old earlier on Tuesday, where the spokesperson said the man was arrested outside a Rite Aid in Bear.
FOR SUBSCRIBERS:Nurses say they were never told Medicaid reimbursements went down. Now they want answers
The man has been incarcerated at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $6,000 secured bond.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
