St. Mary's man arrested while trying to walk off with new pair of shoes

A Lexington Park man who thought he could walk away with a pair of new shoes was caught at the front door of a Kohl’s store in St. Mary’s County wearing the evidence, according to authorities.

On Monday, a Kohl’s loss prevention officer noticed Patrick Alphonso Gayle, 23, acting suspiciously as he walked past the store’s registers and tried to leave the store, authorities said. The pristine shoes on his feet apparently gave him away.

The St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Office said Gayle entered the store wearing old shoes, went to the shoe department, and put a pair of new New Balance shoes on. He then placed his old shoes in the shoe box, put the box back on the shelf, and tried to walk the new shoes out of the store.

Gayle was arrested and charged with theft of less than $100.

-- Josh White