Gainesville, FL – A 35-year-old Florida man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly using his 6-year-old daughter as a lookout while stealing from an Ace Hardware store — and then ditching the child when confronted by security and police. Authorities say the man fled the scene, hid under a car in a Walmart parking lot, and was later arrested after being tased by officers.
The Incident: Theft at Ace Hardware Involving a Child
According to the Gainesville Police Department, the incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Monday, November 10, at an Ace Hardware located on the 3700 block of University Avenue.
Security footage and witness statements revealed that Joshua Robert Spirit, 35, entered the store with his young daughter and went to the tool section. A store security guard told officers that Spirit began placing items “into his person” and into his daughter’s bag, while instructing the child to watch for people nearby.
The guard said the 6-year-old was acting as a lookout while Spirit concealed merchandise valued at approximately $199…