Store dispute leads to arrest for public intoxication

Joseph Richardson
Joseph Richardson

A Columbus man who allegedly yelled obscenities at a cashier at a downtown convenience store was arrested on charges including public intoxication Sunday night.

The disturbance started at a convenience store on Third Street at shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday,  says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.  Police received a report that a man screamed obscenities at the clerk and smacked the partition surrounding the cashier’s counter. He then left the store.

The suspect, 40-year-old Joseph E. Richardson, was located near Fifth and Chestnut streets by police. Richardson allegedly threatened officers and then resisted arrest, police report.

He was suspected to be very intoxicated and was taken to Columbus Regional HOspital to be checked out before being taken to the jail on preliminary charges including public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement.