An Atoka man found himself in hot water with the law after allegedly attempting a brazen footwear heist at the local Walmart. According to a police report, the suspect apparently paid for his snacks but forgot to ring up the boots he was wearing out of the store.
On March 5, 2025, around 5:00 PM, Walmart Asset Protection Associate Latricia Workman contacted Atoka Police regarding a suspicious individual in the shoe department. The man, identified as Hayne Demone, was reportedly trying on boots and acting in a way that raised suspicion among store personnel.
Workman stated that she kept an eye on Demone and waited near the front entrance as he proceeded to check out.
Upon exiting the store, she noticed that he had only paid for a box of Nutri-Grain bars but was still wearing the boots he had tried on earlier.
The Asset Protection Associate then escorted Demone to the store's office and contacted the Atoka County Dispatch.
Upon the arrival of Officer Christian Shomo, Demone was observed to be wearing the boots in question. Adding to the unusual scene, he also had the shoes he had arrived at the store in tucked into the front of his waistband.
Officer Shomo further noted that Demone was sporting a layered look, with blue jeans over a pair of sweatpants. When asked if he had also intended to steal the sweatpants, Demone reportedly admitted to wearing them specifically to help conceal the shoes in his waistband.
Walmart's Asset Protection informed the officer that because the tags had been removed from the boots, the footwear could no longer be resold. After reviewing surveillance footage that corroborated the employee's account, Officer Shomo placed Hayne Demone under arrest.
Demone was subsequently transported to the Atoka County Jail.
