Suspects Barred from Dill’s Foods in Lavonia After Shoplifting Attempt

Four people have been barred from the Lavonia Dill’s grocery store after an alleged shoplifting attempt.

On Monday afternoon, July 22 Lavonia Police were called to the store after managers caught a man walking out of the store with a buggy full of food without paying for it.

One of the managers said he saw the suspect just throwing food into a buggy and then leaving the store with it.

A woman with the suspect was caught loading a car with the food.

Both were detained by the managers until Police arrived.

When officers questioned the man, who identified himself as Patrick Dyer, he said his mother was in the store paying for the groceries.

But when the officers asked Dyer specific questions about his mother, such as her birthdate and where she lived, he could not provide that information.

Officers also questioned the managers who confirmed that there was no woman in the checkout line paying for the buggy load of food.

Managers said after unloading the buggy, they determined that the total cost of the food Dyer attempted to steal was $778.

Officers ran a check on Patrick Dyer in their computer but the photo and information that came back did not match the suspect they were speaking to.

It was later determined that his real name was Timothy Dyer, age 48.

Police also discovered Dyer had outstanding warrants from the Toccoa Police and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.

Dyer was arrested and warrants were taken for Theft by Shoplifting and Giving A False Name and Birthdate to Officers.

After being taken to the Franklin County Jail, officers were advised that Dyer was to be medically cleared and he was then taken to St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital for tests.

A female who was driving the vehicle, identified as Joy Crumley was arrested after she agreed to have her vehicle searched by officers.

She was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence Drugs, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug-related Objects and taken to the Franklin County jail.

Two other people in the Crumley’s vehicle were not arrested but Dill’s has barred all four from their store, the parking lot, and the entire property.