Von Maur shoplifter at Galleria fights employee, swallows heroin, police say

A 27-year-old Birmingham man fought with employees of the Von Maur department store at the Riverchase Galleria as he tried to leave with stolen clothing Monday afternoon and swallowed heroin prior to being arrested, Hoover police said.

The man, identified by police as Matthew Craig Edgil, reportedly struck a female store employee in the face when she tried to stop him from leaving with the stolen merchandise about 4:20 p.m., but other employees assisted in detaining him until police arrived, Hoover police Lt. Keith Czeskleba said in a news release.

When police got there, officers located a syringe on Edgil, who said he swallowed some heroin before he was arrested, police said. He was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment and admitted overnight for observation and will be taken to the Jefferson County Jail upon release from the hospital, Czeskleba said.

Authorities charged Edgil with third-degree robbery and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $10,300.