5 arrested in brazen shoplifting spree caught on video at Louisville Walgreens

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The man caught on cellphone video shoplifting at a Louisville Walgreens has been arrested, along with four other people.

The video, filmed by Sean Peoples, shows Tyler Haney bagging random items from the Walgreens on Fegenbush.

He later walks out to a car full of people, and they drive away.

The video went viral online and called into question whether Louisville Metro Police should have responded or not.

In a Facebook post Thursday announcing the arrests, LMPD said they weren't called while Haney was actively stealing and, if so, they would have responded.

The police department said they were called after Haney and the car with the other suspects in it left the scene.

Detectives were assigned to the case, and said it led them down a rabbit hole. Five people were arrested Wednesday: Haney; William Helphenstine; Kelli Hendricks; Chelsea Wyland; and Keith Reed.

LMPD towed three of their getaway vehicles.

Thursday evening, Peoples responded to the quick action of LMPD.

"For LMPD to put something out saying 'Hey, we heard you, we saw it, and we're investigating,' that made me feel even better," he said. "This is a good look for the city, you got to admit, you know? For it to turn around this quickly. You know people are going to see it, people are going to read it and say 'Hey, you know, Louisville doesn't mess around,' and so it's a win-win for everyone."

LMPD said the Walgreens incident isn't Haney's first brush with the law or first time stealing, adding that he "likes to steal anything that isn't bolted to the ground."

Haney is believed to have gone to the Lowe's off Preston Highway three times, Walgreens and Tool World to steal items.

LMPD said Haney's four co-defendants could be traced back to thefts across Jefferson County.

All of the suspects were charged with theft of $1,000 or more, theft of retail merchandise, engaging in organized crime and hindering prosecution.

Haney has several active cases for stealing, and pleaded not guilty in arraignment court Thursday morning.

One of the cases is from April 26. Haney and two co-defendants are accused of going to the Lowes on Preston Crossing Boulevard three separate times on the same day. Each time they went to Tool World, according to court documents, the suspects "selected and concealed various tools on their person" and walked out of the store. The value of the items stolen was $1,200. Even though they were caught on surveillance video, Haney allegedly admitted to stealing the tools and selling them for a profit.

Another case stems from an April 22 incident at an AutoZone on Poplar Level Road. According to court documents, Haney entered the store and selected $700 in various items before exiting the store making "no attempt to pay" for the merchandise and "did not have permission to take the items." He then got into a vehicle where a co-defendant was waiting and drove off.

The same day, Haney and the same co-defendant hit another AutoZone about two hours later. This time, the two hit the Outer Loop location, with Haney once again entering the store and leaving with merchandise worth about $200 before getting in the co-defendants vehicle again and fleeing the scene. Both AutoZone thefts were caught on surveillance video.

According to court documents, Haney's brazen shoplifting spree at the Fegenbush Walgreens happened the next day, April 23, in the same vehicle. Haney got out of the vehicle, entered the store, and began putting items in a duffle bag while being filmed by a witness—Peoples—about five feet away. Court documents state Haney once again left the store, making no attempt to pay for the items.

Peoples followed Haney out of the store and continued to film him and the vehicle he and the co-defendants fled in, capturing the license plate number. The incident was also caught on surveillance video. The estimated cost of the items Haney stole from the Walgreens was almost $660.

The suspects were identified through the use of the surveillance video and comparing it to known photos. The same vehicle was used in each incident, according to court documents. In total, Haney is accused of stealing close to $1,600 in merchandise from the stores.

Haney is also accused of hitting a different Walgreens earlier this month. According to court documents, Haney went to the Walgreens on South 3rd Street April 4. He was caught on surveillance video stealing about $300 worth of merchandise, put it in a bag, and left the store. The investigation uncovered Haney was identified in "multiple other incidents," and found that he was working with several individuals to steal from different retailers.

Haney remains behind bars at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 9 at 9 a.m.

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