EAGAN, Minn., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A Minnesota man was charged for allegedly trying to leave a store with a 19-inch TV in his pants, police said.

Eric Lee King, 21, of Columbia Heights was charged with misdemeanor shoplifting and fifth-degree felony possession of a controlled substance Friday in Dakota County District Court, St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.


On Dec. 5, a police officer said he saw King drop a box of candy in a store parking lot in Eagan. But when the officer called out to King to alert him, King did not respond and the officer then noticed King was walking strangely.

The officer drove up to King and honked his horn to get his attention, but King still did not respond.

The officer got out of his car to confront King, who reached into his pants, prompting the officer to handcuff him.

After King was handcuffed, the officer noticed a large rectangular object in King's pants, which turned out to be a 19-inch, flat-screen television. The officer also found other items, including a remote control, power cords and a bottle of brake fluid, on King.

A bottle of Xanax pills allegedly was found in his pocket.