Alleged burglar busted inside store

A 20-year-old Aberdeen man was arrested early Tuesday morning after he smashed the glass front door of a convenience store in the 2500 block of Sumner Avenue, according to a statement by Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers.

A witness saw the man break in to the closed business, telling the witness he was “grocery shopping” as he broke the glass. Officers from Hoquiam, Aberdeen, the Sheriff’s Office and State Patrol assisted.

Hoquiam Sgt. Jeremy Mitchell secured the scene and saw the suspect standing at the back of the store holding several items. The officer drew his weapon and ordered the suspect to put his hands up and come to the front of the store. The suspect “casually strolled” to the front, and rather than comply with Sgt. Mitchell and raise his hands, the suspect carefully set down each item one at a time. Officers were able to pull the slightly-built suspect through the security bars in the broken door and he was arrested for burglary and book into the Grays Harbor County Jail. According to Myers, “The suspect later rambled to officers he was just getting ‘survival food’ and was then ‘going into the mist.’”