Hillock
A Greenwood man is facing robbery and theft charges after police say he stole items from two mall department stores and threatened to spray an employee with mace.
Brian C. Hillock, 50, was charged in May with robbery, a Level 5 felony; theft, a Level 6 felony; and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. The Daily Journal first learned of his charges last week, when he was brought into custody for a hearing.
Greenwood police were called to the Greenwood Park Mall on May 20 on a report of a shoplifter. When officers arrived, they spoke with a loss prevention officer for JCPenney who said they were informed that a man known for shoplifting — Hillock — was in the store wearing a backpack, according to a probable cause affidavit filed May 24 in Johnson County Circuit Court.
The loss prevention officer followed Hillock as he began to pick up random clothing items throughout the men’s and kids’ departments. Later, Hillock went down to the first floor, where he was observed making his way over to the women’s department, ducking down. When he came up, nothing was in hand, but his bag was stuffed and there was nothing visible on the floor where he was, the affidavit says.
The loss prevention officer then approached Hillock telling him her position and asking him to come to an office in the store. Hillock asks her what she is talking about and she tells him she will tell him when he gets into the office. However, Hillock informs her he has mace and tells her he will use it. He then runs off, the affidavit says.
The officer contacted mall security, who said that Hillock was observed entering the mall near TGI Friday’s. He later entered a restroom near Dave and Buster’s with a backpack. When he left the restroom, he did not have it on and was later seen entering Champs Sports, according to the affidavit.
The backpack was found in a trash can shortly after, and the bag was given to the loss prevention officer, who said the items inside belonged to JCPenney. They also found items that did not belong to the store, including raw marijuana and a mace spray, the affidavit said.
As police were going through the bag with loss prevention, they were told that Hillock was observed exiting the mall and he was found outside of Bar Louie, where he was taken into custody, the affidavit says.
Shortly after being read his Miranda rights, he informed officers that he had taken the items in the backpack from JCPenney and that he had a red and white Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan jersey in his pants. Officers later took the jersey, according to the affidavit.
He also told detectives that the marijuana was not his, and later admitted to threatening the loss prevention officer. He also apologized to her, saying he never would have harmed her. Hillock later removed clothes belonging to JCPenney that he was wearing, the affidavit says.
While speaking with Hillock, officers were informed that he may have stolen the jersey from Champs Sports. A loss prevention officer from that store later identified Hillock as the man who had taken the jersey, according to the affidavit.
All of the stolen items were returned to their respective stores and Hillock was taken to the Johnson County jail. He was released on Thursday.
