By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the Home Depot store on Mystic Ave. last week on reports that store loss prevention personnel were struggling with a suspected shoplifter who was attempting to evade capture and arrest.

Upon arrival, the officers spotted two store security employees, each holding an arm of the suspect, later identified as Michael Le, of Randolph.

Le appeared to be making slight attempts to break free, according to police reports.

The officers secured and handcuffed Le, then began routine questioning.

According to reports, Le indicated that he spoke English, and yet failed to give a response when asked to identify himself. He reportedly gave them the name of Le Michael after a prolonged period of questioning, but a police database query could not provide a match.

It was later determined that the suspect’s name was actually Michael Le.

The store’s loss prevention personnel briefed the police officers on the incident, telling them that Le reportedly entered the store with a male companion and proceeded to fill a shopping carriage with several containers of house paint and pushed it outside towards the parking lot, past the point of purchase area without paying for the merchandise.

The security staff then intercepted and held Le, but his accomplice reportedly got away.

The store staffers reportedly told police that Le continued to struggle in an attempt to break free until the officers arrived.

The officers were reportedly told that Le had been suspected of stealing from the store on previous occasions but had not been apprehended until the occurrence of this incident.

The total value of the items taken out of the store was reported at $805.38.

Le was placed under arrest and charged with larceny over $250.