Texas man steals from Walmart, police let him go because he was hungry

The holiday spirit must be afoot in Kaufman, Texas.  According to the Star-Telegram a Kaufman Police Department officer is under investigation after letting an alleged Walmart shoplifter off with a warning for swiping a turkey leg and a bottle of Gatorade last Wednesday. 

Learn more about Walmart in the following slides... less The holiday spirit must be afoot in Kaufman, Texas.  According to the Star-Telegram a Kaufman Police Department officer is under investigation after letting an alleged Walmart shoplifter off with a warning for ... more Photo: Alan Diaz, STF Photo: Alan Diaz, STF Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Texas man steals from Walmart, police let him go because he was hungry 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

The holiday spirit must be afoot in Kaufman, Texas. 

According to the Star-Telegram a Kaufman Police Department officer is under investigation for letting an alleged Walmart shoplifter off with a warning for swiping a turkey leg and a bottle of Gatorade last Wednesday. 

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The young suspect told the officer that he hadn't eaten in two days, according to the officer's daughter.  The officer gave the man money for food and let him go with a warning. 

While Walmart staff wanted to press charges on the suspect the officer declined, saying that he didn't believe it was appropriate. 

Kaufman police, meanwhile, appear to be backing the officer according to a press release late last week, but they still were obligated to relieve him of duty temporarily while a full investigation is completed. 

The department actually commended the officer for his act of kindness in the release but said that there was an incident that occurred at the station when he returned and discussed the incident, which required an internal investigation. 

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According to WFAA-TV, the officer is a five-year police veteran and previous to his law enforcement service he served in the United States Marine Corps for nine years. 

Kelsey Stevens, who identified herself as the officer's daughter, said that she stands by what her father did in regards to the hungry man, who she says was only trying to feed himself. 

"He didn't rob anyone at gunpoint, he was a young guy who was literally hungry," Stevens said. " It was a turkey leg, a Gatorade, and that was it." 

Wal-Mart declined to comment to the outlet on the matter. 

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com.  He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth.