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A man did the only thing he could apparently think of April 5 when he allegedly tried to steal a pack of meat from the Sweetwater Walmart.

Sweetwater Police Officer Dante Johnkins said he went to the store on Highway 11 just before 3:30 p.m. and talked to store security who said a man had stuffed a pack of meat down the front of his pants and was approaching the exit.

Johnkins said he approached the man, identified as Tobias Tuck, and asked him about the meat. Tuck reportedly admitted he took it and Johnkins said the meat was recovered.

Johnkins said he then searched Tuck and found a pill bottle with half of a Suboxone strip and three Gabapentin pills in it. Johnkins said they were in a prescription bottle, but the prescription was for something else and they were disposed of.

Johnkins said he then watched security video and could see Tuck pushing around a cart full of items, appearing to check aisles and looking at cameras.

He said Tuck could be seen going into the sporting goods section where he raised the front of his shirt and tucked the meat into his pants.

Tuck, 48, Riverview Drive, Loudon, was charged with shoplifting and also had warrants out for his arrest in Loudon and Roane counties.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com