A Philadelphia man free on $25,000 unsecured bail for an alleged drunk-driving arrest in a stolen car in Doylestown Borough, was arrested, arraigned and released last week on felony shoplifting offenses at Wawa in Buckingham Township.
Jeffrey Joseph Grace, 52, formerly of the 4700 block of Vista St., was charged with felony retail theft and receiving stolen property offenses by police for an incident that occurred Nov. 17 at Wawa on North Easton Road.
Police were dispatched to the Wawa at 3659 N. Easton Road for a report of shoplifting by Grace, per the affidavit. Employees told police Grace allegedly took four jalapeno stuffed pretzels, two double packs of soft pretzels, and two bananas, totaling $16.95.
At 11:38 p.m., Doylestown Township Police were in the area of the theft and located Grace behind Weis Market, 73 Old Dublin Pike, police said. Authorities matched Grace to the image of the suspect in surveillance video at the Wawa, per the complaint.
Grace told police that he was unaware that he was at the Wawa, according to the affidavit. Police told Grace repeatedly to keep his hands out of his pockets, but he would not comply, per the complaint. He was then searched, where two bananas were found in his jacket and sweatshirt, along with a double pack of pretzels in his right jacket pocket, police said.
Authorities said Grace was sleeping in a tarp-constructed shelter behind the shopping center when Doylestown Township Police found him, and four jalapeno pretzels ere found at his shelter.
Grace is free on $10,000 unsecured bail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 2 at 10:15 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Maggie Snow.
On Nov. 3, Grace was charged by Warrington Township Police with four misdemeanor DUI offenses: General impairment of driving safely, general impairment with a BAC of between .08 and 0.10%, high rate of alcohol with a BAC between .10% and .16%, and highest rate of alcohol with a BAC above 0.16%, per court documents.
On Nov. 3, Warrington Police were advised of a vehicle theft that occurred at the Valley Square Shopping Center on 1000 Main St., police said. An officer spotted the stolen vehicle, allegedly driven by Grace, south on Easton Road, and stopped the car, per the affidavit. An investigation determined Grace was intoxicated and he was taken to Warrington Police for processing, police said.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.