Shoplifter Slaps 7-Eleven Employee, Police Say

A 39-year-old Morristown man was charged with shoplifting and simple assault after an incident in the 7-Eleven convenience store, Morristown Police said. 

According to Officer Beverly Downey, the police were called to Morris Street 7-Eleven on Sept. 11 by employees who reported an assault.

The employees told police a customer, identified as Teddy Dowe, put four packs of batteries into his pocket without paying for them, Downey said.

According to Downey’s report, one employee confronted Dowe who turned the batteries over. When the employee pointed his index finger at Dowe and told him not to not come back into the store again Dowe struck the man in the face with an open hand, the report said.

Dowe was arrested and charged with shoplifting and simple assault and during processing it was discovered that Dowe was wanted on an active “no bail” warrant in Essex County for child neglect, the report said.

Dowe was held in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending pick up by the Newark Police, the report said.