COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Police say a Columbus man severely beat a Walmart loss prevention officer while trying to get away with a bag full of stolen electronics.

It happened on June 25 at the Walmart at 3900 Morse Road.

According to court records, a man and a woman put an assortment of electronics in a shopping cart, and then went over to the toy aisle to unwrap them and place them in a tote bag they took off a shelf.

The pair then hid the tote bag in the comforter aisle and left the store, police said. A short time later, police said 56-year-old Michael R. Purnell walked into the store and grabbed the tote bag and started walking toward the door.

A loss prevention associate tried to stop Purnell as he left, but police said he refused to cooperate. That’s when Purnell started assaulting the loss prevention associate, according to police.

According to court documents, Purnell shoved him and slammed his body to the ground, then punched him in the face several times with a closed fist, rendering him unconscious.

Police noted Purnell could have left the store, but chose to continue assaulting the loss prevention associate.

Purnell was arrested and charged with robbery. He appeared in court Tuesday morning where bond was set at $50,000.

Court records show Purnell has a history of felony charges going back to the 1980s. In 2003, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for a robbery that happened at an office in German Village.What others are clicking on: