By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Target store on Somerville Ave. after reports of a shoplifter being detained were called in.

Upon arrival, officers were met by store Loss Prevention personnel and advised that the man being detained, later identified as Michael Taylor, had been observed slicing open packages and placing merchandise in his pockets.

Eyewitness accounts were noted and police were advised that Taylor had been spotted on the video surveillance system as he opened packages and concealed their contents on his person, police said.

The officers conducted a pat down of Taylor and reportedly discovered a double edge box cutter type razor blade along with two memory disks that were removed from their packages. The disks reportedly had a cumulative value of $74.98.

No identification was found on Taylor and when asked who he was he reportedly refused to say.

The officers asked him repeatedly to identify himself but he would not do so, according to reports.

Faced with no other option, police placed Taylor under arrest and charged him with shoplifting by asportation.

His identity was later confirmed during the booking process.