Malden , Kanawha County , West Virginia

Kanawha sheriff’s deputies have released the name of the suspect who was arrested after they say he attempted to steal beer from a store in Malden and then pulled a gun on a witness.

Bilal M. Lyles, 20, of Malden was arrested by deputies and a SWAT team after he allegedly shoplifted two cans of beer from the Fas Chek in Malden about noon Tuesday, according to a news release from the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.

The release said the suspect went into the store, attempted to steal beer and was confronted by store employees. He fled from the store, and the pistol fell from his pants as he ran, deputies said. Witnesses said he retrieved the pistol and brandished it at witnesses. An officer arrived shortly after and gave multiple orders for Lyles to show his hands, as they were in his pockets. Finally, Lyles turned and ran two blocks to his house.

Deputies surrounded the house and called the SWAT team. The release said Lyles refused to answer calls from police to exit, but after several minutes he surrendered and was arrested without further incident. Deputies found a .40-caliber pistol inside the house that was hidden under a bathtub loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition.

Lyles as charged with shoplifting, carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing an officer and fleeing. He was transported to the South Central Regional Jail, where was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

The release said Lyles was recently arrested by Charleston police for a similar incident while at the Gabriel Brothers Store in Kanawha City.

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Deputies arrested a suspect Tuesday who they say allegedly brandished a gun after being caught stealing beer from the Malden Fas Chek.

The suspect was arrested at his residence in Malden, Capt. Sean Crosier of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office said. He initially tried to leave from a window, but he came out of the front of the residence.

Prior to locating the suspect, deputies searched a nearby neighborhood and boats along the Kanawha River where the man fled on foot. A clerk said the suspect actually returned the beer after she chased him out of the store, but then began displaying the gun across the street. A worker at a nearby restaurant said he dropped it in the road before fleeing from a deputy.

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