Man Accused Of Scuffling With Security Guards While Trying To Shoplift

A Painesville man is accused of scrapping with security guards when he tried to shoplift Sunday from .

The security guard spotted Matthew Freeman, 27, going through the automotive section of the store and saw him put several items into his pockets, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien said.

Freeman was also with a 52-year-old Painesville woman who took a ring and three XBox games, Zbiegien added.

The pair then tried to leave without paying for what they took and security stopped them.

Freeman tried to punch one security guard in the face and missed, Zbiegien said, so another guard bearhugged him and brought him down to the ground.

Then Freeman kicked at the guards but they were able to restrain him until police arrived, Zbiegien said.

None of the guards were seriously hurt during the scuffle, though one did get an abrasion on his hand, Zbiegien said.

Matthew Freeman was charged with robbery and petty theft. He was arraigned Monday morning in Mentor Municipal Court.

Judge John Trebets set Freeman's bond at $110,000 -- in part because Freeman also has a warrant for his arrest on a trespassing charge out of Painesville Municipal Court.

The woman with Freeman will also face a misdemanor charge count, Zbiegien said. However, she has not been charged yet so police did not release her name.