A Columbus man was arrested on theft and other charges after allegedly fleeing a grocery store with almost $600 in alcohol yesterday.

According to witnesses at Kroger on National Road, a man grabbed liquor off the shelf then ran to a waiting vehicle at about 4:50 yesterday afternoon. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police, says that officers found the vehicle in the 900 block of California Street.

Officers noticed bottles of liquor in the back seat and allegedly saw a passenger, 30-year-old Christopher S. Bryant trying to hide a syringe. Bryant then allegedly ran away and hid in a shed, where he was arrested. The driver of the vehicle also fled the scene, but police know his identify, Harris said.

Bryant is facing preliminary charges of theft, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief and possession of a legend drug injection device.