A man attempted to burn down a gas station Sunday after a clerk caught him stealing a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos and confronted him, according to multiple reports.
St. Louis police arrested Joshua Lee Crook, 33, on Monday after police said he attempted to steal a bag of Cheetos from the BP gas station on South Grand Boulevard, according to KMOV.
Police said that over the course of a few minutes, Crook twice tried to steal snacks from the store. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Crook put down a bag of Cheetos and left after a store manager caught him. But he returned a short while later, around 5 p.m. Sunday, apparently intent on grabbing a snack.
Police records showed Crooks allegedly grabbed another bag of Cheetos and started to leave the store. When the manager tried to stop him, Crook pushed the manager and punched him in the face, according to the Post-Dispatch.
Outside the store, Crook slammed a gas pump on the ground. Gasoline started to pool, according to KSDK.
Crook then threw a lit cigarette onto the gas in an apparent attempt to start a fire.
He was not successful.
Crook was charged with first-degree attempted arson, third-degree assault, theft of less than $500 and first-degree trespassing. He remained jailed Wednesday.
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