CUMBERLAND, MD – On August 12, at approximately 7:27 a.m., Cumberland Police Department (CPD) officers responded to a theft at WaWa, a popular convenience store, where a man stole a carton of cigarettes and attempted to flee the scene.
According to the store’s employees, the suspect, later identified as Jay Lavar Grooms, 41, of Easton, MD, went behind the counter and grabbed the carton of cigarettes before leaving the store without paying for the items.
Following a description provided by the employees, officers canvassed the area and located Grooms near Washington and Race St. As the officers approached, Grooms attempted to run away, leading to a brief foot chase.
Grooms was apprehended and found to be in possession of the stolen cigarettes. He was subsequently transported to CPD for processing and was later released on Criminal Citations.