Patton Township police they had to use a taser to subdue a Centre County man who fled after being detained for stealing cheese from a supermarket, then led officers on a foot chase and attempted to enter two vehicles in the parking lot.
Jeremy M. Zelenky, 40, was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine and had two outstanding arrest warrants when he was taken into custody on Saturday, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
A staff member at Wegmans, 345 Colonnade Boulevard, notified police at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday that two men were “acting strangely,” walking back and forth between a car and the store, with one of the men repeatedly looking over his shoulder while rummaging through a bag while in the cafe, according to the affidavit.
One of the men, later identified as Zelenky, stole cheese from the deli before they left the area and returned about two hours later, police wrote.
When questioned by an officer, Zelenky identified himself by a name that police determined through state driver records was not his, according to the affidavit. After being told to put his hands behind his back, Zelenky fled and the officer attempted to deploy a Taser but it did not fire, police wrote.
Zelenky then led multiple officers on a foot chase through the parking lot, according to the affidavit.
At one point, Zelenky raised his fists “in a threatening manner toward officers,” police wrote. He then ran into the store vestibule and reached into his coat. An officer, believing Zelenky was reaching for a weapon, drew his firearm and ordered him to show his hand, according to the affidavit.
Zelenky fled again and the pursuit continued back into the parking lot near Dick’s Sporting Goods, where he attempted to open at least two occupied vehicles, though the doors were locked, police wrote. Bystanders appeared frightened by Zelenky’s actions, according to the affidavit.
An officer deployed his Taser to subdue Zelenky in the parking lot in front of Five Below and he was taken into custody.
During a search after his arrest, Zelenky was found to be in possession of two butane torch lighters, a scale, empty plastic bags, a glass jar with white residue, and a clear plastic bag and a bubble wrap bag, both containing substances resembling crystal methampethamine, according to the affiadvit.
Zelenky allegedly admitted the substance was crystal meth and said he smoked meth as recently as four hours earlier, police wrote. The substances subsequently tested positive for methamphetamine.
After he provided his real name and date of birth, police found Zelenky was wanted on bench warrants in Centre and Union counties, both of which were related to other theft cases, according to court records.
“He stated he was aware of the warrants, which is why he fled, and further stated that he is going back to jail for a long time,” police wrote.
Zelenky is charged with felony counts of retail theft and flight to avoid apprehension, as well as misdemeanor counts of evading arrest, resisting arrest, false identification to law enforcement, disorderly conduct, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was arraigned on Sunday by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, who set bail at $5,000, though a bail hearing on the separate Centre County bench warrant was scheduled for Tuesday. Zelenky remains in custody at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 8.
