Police arrested a 22-year-old Modesto man who allegedly stole packages of frozen shrimp from Food-4-Less Thursday morning and pulled a knife when an employee tried to detain him.

The store called 9-1-1 at 8:05 a.m.  Employees had observed Carlos Silva, 22, of Modesto, leave the store with two bags of frozen shrimp which he had not bought. An employee caught up to Silva near the canal bank next to the store as he was putting the shrimp into a backpack. The employee confronted Silva and an argument ensued. Seeing a knife on Carlos’ waistband, the employee stopped arguing and Silva left on a bicycle westbound on Hatch Road. 

Officer Hector Pulido checked the area but was initially unable to locate the suspect. As he went to the store to speak with witnesses, a citizen called 9-1-1 to report they had watched the argument on the canal bank and was following Silva. The dispatcher was able to guide officers to Silva through the citizen’s directions. Silva was located on S. Ninth Street near B Street in Modesto. Silva was on searchable probation and officers found nine large packages of frozen shrimp in his backpack as well as a stolen speaker from a prior theft. 

Silva was placed under arrest for commercial burglary, possession of stolen property and probation violation