Man charged with Wal-Mart theft 23-year-old says he took clothing to sell for children’s Christmas gifts

A Hudson man was arrested and charged with theft after he was caught attempting to steal more than $500 worth of clothing from Wal-Mart, Bangor police said Monday.

Glenn R. Curtis, 23, told police that he had taken the clothes with the intent of selling them in order to buy his children Christmas gifts, Bangor police Officer Dan Herrick said. A loss prevention employee at Wal-Mart told police he witnessed Curtis put several clothing items in his shopping cart before walking to the front of the store, placing the items over his arm, and walking out.

Wal-Mart employees stopped Curtis immediately outside the store with the $542 worth of clothing in his possession, Herrick said. Police also found two empty Wal-Mart shopping bags in Curtis’ pants.

“Mr. Curtis requested he only be summoned for theft as he wanted to be home for Christmas,” Herrick said. Police took Curtis to Penobscot County Jail in Bangor. He later was released on personal recognizance bail and will appear in 3rd District Court in Bangor on Jan. 27.

Curtis had previous convictions for theft on Feb. 10, 1999, and Dec. 21, 1998.

A replica of Snoopy, the beagle of the “Peanuts” comic strip, dressed in Santa Claus garb was among the more notable Christmas lawn decorations stolen from the Pier Street home of Bangor man Monday morning.

The 45-year-old resident was certain that Snoopy, along with Santa Claus on a large candy cane replica and holiday signs including one that states “Let it snow,” was at his home just after midnight Monday, Bangor police Officer Robert Hutchings Jr. said. The ornaments were gone, however, by 7:45 a.m. Monday. The items had a combined value of more than $125. Police did not have any leads or suspects in the theft as of Monday night.

A Bangor woman and her 3-year-old son suffered minor injuries after she lost control of her sport utility vehicle on an icy section of Valley Avenue on Monday morning.

Heidi Violette, 28, complained of head pain and her son, Cody Violette, received abrasions to his head, said Bangor police Officer Robert Hutchings Jr. Both were properly secured in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Violette was driving the silver 1995 Jeep south when she lost control of the vehicle and struck an embankment, Hutchings said. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Derek Breton