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Man charged with breaking and entering says he was locked in store’s bathroom

YOUNGSTOWN — Aaron Jones was arraigned Monday in Youngstown Municipal Court on a felony breaking-and-entering charge after he called 911 at 6:02 a.m. Saturday to say he found himself locked in the bathroom at Walgreens, 2560 Belmont Ave.

When officers arrived, Jones, 30, came to the front door of the building, where the doors were locked. Jones then walked to the rear of the building, where he exited through the rear fire door, which officers noted Jones could have used at any time to exit the building.

Jones told the 911 call taker that he entered the store’s bathroom at about 9 or 10 p.m. the previous night and that store employees closed the business and “locked him in there,” so he “slept in the bathroom until this morning when he decided to call” 911, a Youngstown police report states.

When Jones exited the building, an officer asked Jones why he did not call earlier, and Jones said he did not have a phone but used the business phone, the report states.

An officer noted that he could see numerous items “shoved down Jones’ shorts.” Jones then took numerous items out of his shorts, and Jones admitted that some of them belonged to the store. Among the items were a camera from his pocket that store officials later said belonged to the store and was used by employees.

Other items retrieved from Jones were several packs of cigarettes, condoms, lighters and many other items from inside the store, the report states.

“For remaining in the store past closing, then not using obvious means to contact emergency personnel or leave and then committing theft offenses, Jones was advised he was under arrest” and was handcuffed, the report states.

The store manager arrived, and officers saw large black contractor garbage bags in the back of the store near the bathrooms and fire exit, the report states. Inside the bags, officers saw several thousands of dollars worth of store merchandise, such as tobacco, clothing and hygiene products, the report states.

If Jones is convicted, Jones could get about a year in prison.

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