Hunter
12/14/22
An area transient with a laundry list of misdemeanors over the years has been arrested again.
According to police, 27-year-old Amos Lavela was at a restaurant in the Old Capitol Center on South Clinton Street Monday evening and took food without paying. Officers were given a description and located Lavela nearby carrying the stolen food. As they approached him, Lavela fled officers. He ignored orders to stop running and had to be tackled to the ground to be arrested.
Upon contact, Lavela reportedly had signs of intoxication including bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech and the odor of alcoholic beverages on his breath. Lavela refused a PBT.
He was charged with 3rd degree theft, public intoxication and interference with official acts; if convicted on the charges, he could be sentenced to up to 26 months in jail.
Lavela has been trespassed from numerous area businesses, and has several public intoxication and theft convictions on his record. On Tuesday, Lavela submitted a plea of guilty to third degree theft charges stemming from a series of thefts from the downtown Target store, where he allegedly took hundreds of dollars in merchandise over a two-month period. He’s due to be arraigned this Monday.