Full Notification

On March 17, 2020, about 3:20 PM, San Leandro Police Officers were dispatched to Walmart, 15555 Hesperian Boulevard for a report of a robbery. The suspect, 40-year-old, Serrell Gordon of Oakland, was observed taking approximately $780.00 worth of energy drinks. At the time of the theft, Gordon was wearing a medical mask and, when contacted by Walmart loss prevention staff, falsely claimed to be sick with COVID-19 in an effort to avoid being arrested for shoplifting. Fearing the risk of contracting the virus if they apprehended Gordon, Walmart loss prevention staff backed away from Gordon and allowed him to leave with the stolen merchandise. Walmart loss prevention then notified SLPD and provided a description of Gordon and the vehicle he was in when he fled the scene.

Responding officers stopped the vehicle, in which Gordon was seen fleeing, a short distance away from Walmart and arrested him for the crime of robbery. San Leandro Police Lt. Ted Henderson said, “In California, a robbery can occur when a shoplifter tries to take merchandise from a store and is confronted by store security and the shoplifter attempts to use force or, in this case use fear, to avoid arrest and permanently deprive the store of their merchandise.”

Subsequently, the case was reviewed by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and Gordon was formally charged with the crimes of robbery and resisting arrest. He is currently being held at Santa Rita Jail on a $60,000.00 bail.