CHILLICOTHE, OH — A man accused of multiple thefts at Walmart has been arrested after police say he was caught attempting to leave the store with stolen merchandise while armed with a handgun.
According to a report from the Chillicothe Police Department, officers were dispatched to Walmart on September 29, 2025, for a theft in progress. Loss Prevention Officer Cassell Bowen had detained Tyler Stabelton after allegedly watching him load a compound bow, toilet paper, and several packs of baseball cards into a cart before pushing it toward the automotive doors.
Investigators say Stabelton passed all points of sale without paying and showed an employee a mobile receipt, which store officials identified as invalid. Loss prevention staff reported that two days earlier, Stabelton allegedly left the store with roughly $1,200 in merchandise using what he admitted was an AI-generated receipt.
As officers issued a citation for theft, police said a .40 caliber Glock 23 handgun became visible under Stabelton’s clothing. Because Walmart requested charges and the suspect was in possession of a firearm during the alleged theft, the charge was elevated to robbery.
Stabelton was arrested, transported to the Ross County Jail, and barred from all Walmart properties. Police confirmed he was not prohibited from owning a firearm, and the handgun was not reported stolen.
The investigation is ongoing.
