Tacoma man arrested after “squaring up” against Olympia loss-prevention employee

 A Tacoma man was arrested after he allegedly stood by as his friend stole a coat from a retail store in Olympia and later “squared up” against a loss-prevention officer who confronted them about the item.

According to Olympia police, Jose C. Santos, 39, was arrested on Nov. 23, Tue., following a report of a robbery at the Macy’s Department Store along Black Lake Boulevard.

Two Macy’s asset-protection officers told police that they observed a man put on a camouflage jacket valued at around $220 as Santos watched.

The employees said they began following the two suspects after seeing the theft through security camera footage and later heard Santos’ companion state something to the effect of, “You better come this way,” as the suspects walked past them.

The suspects then walked out of the store without paying for the jacket, the employees said.

One employee said he caught up to the suspects in the parking lot and told them that he needed the jacket back, to which Santos’ companion allegedly replied something along the lines of, “Get bent.”

The employee said he then grabbed the jacket and began pulling it off Santos’ companion, leading to a physical altercation.

The other asset protection officer said he stepped in between the two men in an attempt to deescalate the situation but Santos’ companion allegedly  punched him on the left side of his face. Police noted “the onset of bruising” on the employee’s left cheek.

The employee said Santos squared his shoulders, clenched his fists up to his face, and told him to “Leave my friend alone.”

The two employees said they ultimately managed to recover the jacket and backed away from the suspects, offering not to press assault charges if they cooperate with the retail theft program.

The employees said the suspects initially appeared to be cooperative but started walking away and ran off when one of them brought out a cellphone to call 911.

A police officer later located Santos, who insisted that he had no idea his friend “Jeff” had stolen a jacket.

Santos told police that he met “Jeff” in jail and did not know any other information about him.

Santos was booked at the Thurston County Jail for second-degree robbery. Authorities failed to locate Santos’ companion.