Man tries to flee despite zaps from stun gun

The electrical buzz can be heard a block away.

The Piggly Wiggly security guard is trying to subdue a suspected shoplifter in the alley behind the Meeting Street store.

A zapping charge and then a yelp. And then another.

The hand-held stun gun's blue sparks light up the night.

The man, weighing more than 300 pounds and standing taller than his opponents, which now includes a grocer, struggles as the guard tries to cuff him.

The tussle spills onto Columbus Street as a crowd gathers. A motorist stops just short of hitting the suspect, who flops into the street.

The guard and suspect get up and stumble onto the nearby railroad tracks to continue their wrestling match.

More zaps.

A security guard from another business arrives and tries to lend a hand, but the three tumble onto the tracks and rock bed. Another zap.

The grocer steps in to hold the one handcuffed arm as the grocery guard does his best to keep the suspect down.

The grocery guard hands the stun gun to a bystander. "Hold this." After using it dozens of times to little effect, he appears to need his free hand more. And, just in case, his holstered handgun still is within reach.

A Charleston police cruiser flies down Columbus as onlookers try to flag down the officer. The squad car backs up half a block to the scene. The officer steps out, strides over and calmly tells all to step away.

He informs the man to turn around and put his hands behind his back. The shirtless suspect calms down and utters his first words in the five-minute ordeal: "Yes, sir."

The exhausted suspect reaches his arms behind his large frame and accepts the inevitable.

Click.

Willie Kelly, 42, of Charleston was charged with shoplifting. Again. The booty? A few cans of oysters.

Cleve O'Quinn is night metro editor of The Post and Courier. He witnessed the incident about 10 p.m. Thursday.