A Union teen is facing both city and county charges after being arrested at a local motel Saturday night.

Thomas Jay Elston, 19, 206 Osborne St., Union, is charged by the public safety department with shoplifting and by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with consumption and possession of liquor by a minor and unlawful possession of prescription medication.

Law enforcement personnel were dispatched to a motel on the South Duncan By-Pass in response to a report of a fight in the parking lot. They were initially unable to locate the individuals involved in the fight, but the motel owner told them what room the suspects were staying in.

A public safety officer noticed a person later identified as Elston hiding at the back of the building. The report states Elston attempted to run but was “highly intoxicated and did not make it.” It states Elston appeared to have been in a fight but was unable to say with who or why. He did, however, tell officers he’d been drinking alcohol all night.

Elston was placed under arrest for consumption of alcohol by a minor and transported to the Union County Jail. The report states that at the jail a small plastic bag was found in Elston’s pocket containing seven small white pills identified as Trazodone/Desyrel. While not controlled substances, the report states it was unlawfully in Elston’s possession and he would be charged with unlawful possession of prescription medication.

The city’s charge against Elston stems from a Nov. 24 incident at a Main Street grocery store.

An officer dispatched to the scene was told by the manager a white male who went by the name of TJ entered the store at approximately 10:30 a.m. and grabbed a box of Little Debbie Oatmeal Cakes ($1.59) and placed it under his shirt. The manager said he approached the young man who when confronted took the box out from under his shirt and handed it over. As they walked toward the front of the store the young man took off running toward Monarch.

The incident was captured on the store’s surveillance cameras and upon investigation by the public safety department a warrant was issued for Elston’s arrest for shoplifting.

Also charged Saturday was William Matthew Ochiltree, 19, 104 Third Avenue, Union. Ochiltree, who’d rented the room, was found by law enforcement personnel in the parking lot across the street and brought back to his room for questioning about the fight. The report states he had a large bottle of whisky in his room. He was charged with possession of liquor by a minor and transported to the jail.

Arrests

The following persons were arrested by the sheriff’s office:

Jeffrey Lee Davis, 37, 921 Linersville Road, Buffalo, charged Monday with grand larceny.

Shakeeta Rachell Shaw, 23, 238 Suber Lane, Union, charged Monday with fraudulent check.

Sherrie Leigh Walton, 40, 238 Suber Lane, Union, charged Monday with fraudulent check.

James Michael Turner, 46, 116 City View Circle, Union, charged Monday with public drunk.

Frank Dennoris Smith, 45, 169 Eisontown Road, Jonesville, charged Monday with public intoxication.