A Fernandina Beach man was arrested Tuesday after he reportedly tried to steal more than $300 worth of items from a Publix in Yulee.
The Nassau County Sheriff's Office said it got a call about a man -- later identified as 25-year-old John Charles Ward -- walking out of the grocery store without paying for several items. He reportedly fled on foot to a nearby GATE Gas Station.
Ward was reportedly wearing all black at the time, but witnesses say they saw him enter a SunTrust Bank and changed out of his clothes into a red shirt and gray shorts, deputies say.
Witnesses also told deputies they saw Ward dump his clothing and items into a nearby trash can. When deputies searched the trash can, they said they found his black clothing and the items from Publix.
Deputies found Ward in the parking lot of Snynovus Bank and arrested him.
They determined that the total value of items stolen was $304.16.