Police: Threat of Taser Persuades Shoplifter to Drop Scissors from Throat

What would have been a routine arrest for shoplifting became a little more complicated during an incident at Paul's Discount Store, 424 Highway 1 West, last Friday.

According to an Iowa City Police criminal complaint, at about 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 15, James Benjamin Christensen, 23, of Tiffin allegedly attempted to leave Paul's with five pairs of sunglasses and a pair of gloves in his pockets, none of which he had paid for, according to store staff. This sounded the theft alarm, summoning police to the scene.

When Christensen was taken to the office in Paul's to wait for authorities, he grabbed a nearby scissors and placed it up against his throat, threatening to harm himself with them. Once officers arrived, police say Christensen would not drop the scissors despite officers pointing guns at him. Upon an officer brandishing a Taser and informing Christensen it was about to be used on him, Christensen relented and dropped the scissors.

The amount of items stolen totalled $66.28, according to police complaints. Christensen was charged with interference with official acts and fifth-degree theft, both simple misdemeanors.