Thief Fakes Heart Attack - Two men have been arrested on grand theft charges after one faked having a fatal heart attack so the other could steal $369.94 worth of toys from a Lake Wales Walmart store.
The identities of the suspects, who were arrested on Tuesday, have been revealed as 30-year-old Tarus Scott and 27-year-old Genard Dupree.
The men, who are said to be close friends, thought they had conceived a genius plan to shop without paying. However, they forgot the all seeing eye of the mall's surveillance camera.
According to Polk County Sheriff's office reports, the men walked into the store together and filled a shopping cart with several toys including a Barbie Glam vacation house, a Leap Frog tablet and a motorized power wheel Barbie car.
Reports indicate that although walked around the store together and picked the items, the suspects headed for the entrance separately.
A Walmart video surveillance footage shows Dupree feigning a heart attack on the floor, while Scott slips away as concerned bystanders rush to attend to Dupree - who was clutching his chest.
Dupree's seemingly fatal heart attack lasted only 44 seconds. Authorities say after Scott walked out, Dupree got up - as though it were a miracle - and left the store. They were arrested when officers caught them with the stolen merchandise inside a silver SUV after they fled the store.
It is not clear why or who Dupree and Scott were stealing the toys for.
Both men reportedly have criminal records of theft. Dupree is currently on probation for theft and has 24 prior arrests, while Scott served a 10-year prison sentence for armed robbery.
It's not clear when they would be arraigned before court. It is not also clear if both Dupree and Scott have attorneys.
