CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — An Atlanta Police Department detective is facing a misdemeanor charge after he was accused of stealing a 12 pack of SweetWater IPAs from a Publix in Canton.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says Ronald Sluss was charged with theft by shoplifting after the beer, valued at about $19, was taken from the store.
Security footage captured Sluss walking through the self checkout lanes without paying and leaving the store, according to officials.
Deputy Salazar was already at the Publix speaking with store manager Mohamed Hamza when Sluss allegedly walked through the checkout area holding what appeared to be a receipt.
Officials say Sluss never paid for the beer and continued past the points of sale before leaving the store with the 12 pack.
The sheriff’s office said Sluss appeared to notice Hamza as he walked through the checkout area, turned around and walked in the opposite direction. Officials said he then walked through a store aisle next to the checkout lanes and appeared to wait before going back through the self checkout lanes.
“Ronald carried the beer through an unattended checkout lane, while passing through he noticed Mohamed, turned around proceeding in the opposite direction. Ronald walked through a store isle, next to the checkout lanes, appearing to wait for a moment before walking through the self-check-out lanes,” Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office officials said.
After securing a warrant at Sluss’ home, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office officials said they “observed a “strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath.”
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office later issued a criminal trespass notice for the Publix at 6175 Hickory Flat Highway.
Sluss was booked into the Cherokee County Jail last Wednesday and has since posted a $1,000 bond, according to officials. His wallet, phone, keys and a knife were turned over to a resident at his request.
The Atlanta Police Department released the following statement:
“The Atlanta Police Department is aware of the off-duty arrest of Detective Ronald Sluss. Detective R. Sluss has been relieved of duty and placed in a non-enforcement status. The Atlanta Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards has opened an investigation into the incident. It is to be noted that the Atlanta Police Department takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, and officers are expected to abide by the highest standards of our profession.”
WSB Radio’s Jordan Brown contributed to this story.