Indiana Infamy

An Indiana man is in trouble after allegedly threatening people with a hatchet at an Indianapolis Wal-Mart.

According to court documents, Randy Jent, 38, was trying to “save money, live better” at the east side superstore on April 9th when he was spotted stuffing merchandise into his backpack. Loss prevention employees responded, following Jent through the store while also calling an off-duty Albany policeman who was apparently moonlighting as store security.

The Albany PD officer was on the phone with one of the people shadowing Jent when the employee suddenly screamed that the suspect was coming at him with a hatchet. Drawing his gun, the officer ran inside the store, where he found Jent with the weapon in hand. Jent then dropped the hatchet but refused to assume a position on his knees as ordered. After a brief physical struggle, the suspect was detained.

Jent told police he’d reacted badly after noticing the loss prevention team following him, and that he’d been jumpy ever since his wife had been recently kidnapped. However, a search of his name in the Wal-Mart system revealed he had been trespassed from several Indianapolis-area stores.

Jent has been charged with intimidation by use of a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony.