Man Causes Problems At 2 La Grange Stores: Cops

La Grange IL

07 February, 2022

7:46 AM

Description

LA GRANGE, IL — A Brookfield man caused disturbances at two La Grange stores last month, stealing cigarettes at one of them, police said. Cody Barton, 30, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and retail theft, then released. Patch obtained the police report through a public records request. About 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20, Barton entered Wonderful Matcha, 4 W. Burlington Ave., holding a bottle of alcohol, according to the report. The store was preparing to close. He then pounded his fist on a table, saying, "I'll tell you what I need to do" and "I'm coming here out of anger," police said. When an employee asked how they could help him, Barton made a sexual gesture, the report said. He then asked, "Why did you guys let me go?," police said. The employees believed he might have worked at a previous business at 4 W. Burlington. They said Barton needed to leave because they were closing. He then went up to one of the two employees, both women, and called her a "b----," according to the report. Barton, whose race was listed as unknown in the report, said he felt sorry for the women because they had pale faces, police said. He cursed them and called them racists, police said. He then left. The women called police, who showed up shortly after. While there, they got a report of a man with a similar description causing problems at Walgreens, 2 N. La Grange Road, about a block away. At Walgreens, Barton walked around with a bottle of Jameson whiskey, police said. He tried to buy cigarettes, but a clerk refused because he had no identification, according to the report. He showed his bald head to demonstrate his age, but that tactic failed, police said. As a result, Barton spoke with several customers, trying to get them to buy cigarettes for him, police said. He convinced one customer, who handed the clerk a $20 bill from Barton, according to the report. The clerk declined the money. Barton then walked over the barrier that leads behind the counter and stole a few packs of Marlboro cigarettes, police said. Barton was apprehended shortly afterward and charged. He declined documents from the police, saying he would not go to court, the report said.