A bystander tackled a suspected shoplifter Thursday in Port St. Lucie, according to police.
Just before 7 p.m. officers were called to the Walmart at 1675 NW St. Lucie West Boulevard to investigate a possible shoplifting case.
They saw a man running out of the store and an officer yelled, "Police, stop."
That caught the attention of a bystander in the parking lot who gave chase. He tackled the suspect who was later identified as 31-year-old Pierre Raymonvil of Port St. Lucie.
Two officers arrested Raymonvil. Police said they were assisted by an off-duty Florida Highway Patrol trooper.
"We had officers in the area. I'm pretty confident we would've gotten (him), but in this case, the good Samaritan, if you want to call him, saw that the officer was losing ground and took over the foot chase," said Port St. Lucie Master Sergeant Frank Sabol.
Sabol said he wouldn't encourage folks to chase suspected criminals, although it worked out in this case.
Raymonvil faces charges of grand theft, resisting a merchant, and resisting an officer without violence.
Police said they were told by store security that Raymonvil attempted to leave without paying for a memory foam bed and sheets. Security said he took off when they confronted him at an exit.
Police said the bystander who tackled Raymonvil left the scene and officers do not know his identity.
Master Sergeant Sabol is encouraging the person who tackled the suspect to come forward and be a witness in the case.
