By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A Blowing Rock man fled from police on Sunday as officers spoke to him about shoplifting accusations in the Walmart parking lot.
According to a Salisbury Police report, Robert Jerome Cobb, 26, bolted away from officers after Walmart’s Loss Prevention contacted the authorities about a shoplifter.
Loss Prevention officers told police that Cobb was seen swapping price stickers on items inside the store’s outdoor section.
Walmart security said at one point they watched Cobb take a $42.96 price tag from a fishing pole and replace it with a $8.96 price tag from a tackle box, the report said.
When officers arrived at the 323 S. Arlington St. parking lot, security told them about Cobb’s location.
They found Cobb putting a bag of goods in a vehicle that contained at least two other passengers.
Cobb was uncooperative, the report said, when authorities began talking to him and placed his hand into his pocket.
As officers began instructing the other passengers, Cobb ran toward Cato Fashions on Freeland Drive, according to the report.
Police said they chased Cobb until he slipped and fell down an embankment where he was then arrested.
Cobb was wanted on warrants dating back to 2003, including two counts of failing to appear in court, misdemeanor probation violation, felony obtaining property by false pretense and communicating threats.
The two counts of failure to appear were for speeding and driving while license revoked in Caldwell County.
Police said they also found a knife in Cobb’s pocket during the arrest.
Cobb, of 1078 Niley Cook Road, Blowing Rock, was additionally charged with two counts of misdemeanor resisting, obstructing or delaying a public officer, felony obtaining property by false pretense, injury to personal property and carrying a concealed weapon.
Cobb was given a $60,000 bond and was in jail on Monday.