Police arrest man accused of stealing beer, driving off with Walmart manager in truck

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — Police have arrested a suspected beer thief accused of taking a Titusville Walmart manager on a wild ride in the back of a truck.

Joseph Michael Long, of Cocoa, was arrested by Cocoa police on charges unrelated to the Walmart theft, Titusville police said.

Police said Long was positively identified as the one who stole the beer from the Walmart Dec. 30.

According to Walmart manager Michael Dawson, he attempted to stop two people who he said were stealing beer from the store.

Dawson said that the two threw the beer into their truck and as they started to leave the parking lot he was forced to jump into the back of the truck to avoid being hit.

"I ran up to get their license plate, but when I realized how close I was, I jumped in the back so they didn't run me over," Dawson said after the incident.

The truck traveled along several streets and at high speeds down I-95 before stopping in Canaveral Groves where Dawson was able to get out of the truck before it drove away.

On Friday Titusville police said Long is charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and grand theft.

He is being held in the Brevard County Jail.

Police said the truck, which is registered to Long's father, was located and evidence was recovered from it.

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