Man arrested after pretending to be a store employee

Calexico Police said 21-year-old Jesse Garcia allegedly stole a store vest and entered the store’s building through the back area.

A store employee asked Garcia what he was doing in the back area. Police said Garcia pulled out a box-cutter in a threatening way and followed the employee inside the store. Police arrived and arrested Garcia. They found two knives in his possession which employees said belonged to the store. Police said Garcia is listed as being from Calexico and homeless.

Detective Armando Orozco said, “The fake employee pulled out a box-cutter and began to open and close it. And the real employee felt threatened, so she turned away, walked away, and the fake employee started following her with the box-cutter in hand.”

Garcia is being charged with being in possession of stolen property and trespassing. More charges are pending.