Man Faces Robbery Charges After Hitting Grocer in Head with Baby Formula

A shoplifter hit a grocery store manager in the head with a bag of baby formula cans while trying to escape the store, charges allege.

Nathaniel Wallace, 52, of Milwaukee, was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday with armed robbery, battery, possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to 16 1/2 years in prison and $70,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

About 8 p.m. Wednesday, an employee and security officer at , 12735 W. Capitol Dr., saw Wallace hide several cans of baby formula in a bag. The pair recognized Wallace as a repeat shoplifter at the store and began to follow him.

As Wallace approached the east doors of the store, the employee tried to stop him, but Wallace rushed past him. When the employee continued to try and hold Wallace outside the doors, Wallace swung a bag with seven 35-ounce cans of formula at the man and hit him in the head.

Eventually the two employees were able to get Wallace to the ground, where they held him until Brookfield police officers arrived.

Wallace was taken to the Brookfield Police Department where he told officers he had a crack pipe in his left sock, but he refused to kick off his shoes, so officers had to remove them for him and retrieve the pipe.

Wallace was being held in the Waukesha County Jail on $50,000 bond while awaiting trial.