Logan Fleischer (PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A 28-year-old Stillwater man, who reportedly said he had been drinking cough medicine for hours in Walmart, told a Payne County judge he wants to represent himself on charges of shoplifting $1,118 worth of items from the store and attempting to escape from arrest.
If convicted of both felonies, Logan Charles Fleischer could be given four years in prison plus $2,000 in fines. The judge did not rule on the request of Fleischer, who remains jailed on $20,000 bond pending a Jan. 27 court appearance.
On the night after Christmas at 8:49 pm, Stillwater Police Officer Damian Neiswanger was sent to the 700 block of E. Virginia for a welfare check on a man taking off and putting on clothes next to dumpsters while carrying a large knife on his side, his affidavit alleged.
“As I was in route, dispatch also advised that an associate with Walmart called to let us know that same male is a suspect in a larceny that just occurred. The employee advised the male pushed a cart full of property out of the store without paying. As I arrived on scene, Officer Goree and Officer Rogers also arrived.
“Officer Goree told the male to put his hands up. He complied at first, but Officer Goree then told him to get on the ground. The male looked around briefly and then ran to the south through the parking lot…I began giving the male commands to stop or he would be tased.
“As we were running, I deployed my Taser, but it did not make contact…I deployed my second Taser cartridge with no effect. The male ran up to Officer Rogers’ patrol car and attempted to open it, but it was locked. Officer Goree then deployed his Taser, and it was effective on the male. We were then able to get the male in handcuffs and searched his person before placing him in Officer Rogers’ patrol car.
“I opened the door and asked the male if he had a receipt for any of the property, and he began to tell me that he has been in Walmart for a number of hours allegedly drinking cough medicine. I again asked if he had a receipt, and he said that he did not. I then read the male his Miranda warning and asked him if he understood his rights. He advised me that he did not.
“A short time later, the Walmart employee, who originally called dispatch, arrived on scene. He stated that he was unsure what all was stolen but was able to confirm that three knives that were in the cart were stolen. While at the jail, I was informed that the male’s name was Logan Fleischer. I was also informed that the belt and knife sheath on his person were stolen,” Officer Neiswanger alleged in his affidavit.
Security footage showed that Fleischer went into Walmart at 4:04 pm “and proceeded to select items over the course of five hours and 40 minutes,” before leaving “to stand in the parking lot of Planet Fitness where the police found him and arrested him,” for taking 61 items from Walmart totaling $1,118, another affidavit alleged.
While Fleischer was being transported from the Stillwater City Jail to the Payne County Jail on Dec. 27, as he was getting out of a patrol car, he “got both of his feet on the ground, then stood up quickly and ran south out of the open sally port door,” of the county jail, Stillwater Police Officer Zachary Gulick alleged in an affidavit.
“I ordered Logan (Fleischer) to stop multiple times as I chased after him. I followed Logan as he ran northwest from the south sally port door, towards Strode Funeral Home. I then followed Logan as he ran northbound in the alleyway between the Payne County Extension Officer and Mitchell Motors. I followed Logan into the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church.
“Sgt. Rivas pulled into the parking lot of the church, and I gave Logan orders to get on the ground multiple times when he ran into the church parking lot. I then observed Sgt. Rivas tackle Logan and gain control of his movements. Logan was then loaded into the back seat of Sgt. Rivas’ patrol car and transported to the Stillwater City Jail, where he was processed and jailed,” Officer Gulick alleged in his affidavit.
