Police: Man resists arrest after stealing tip jar from Jericho market

A man fought with officers Tuesday as he was being arrested in the theft of a tip jar from a Jericho food market, Nassau County police said.

Haile Watson, 39, ripped away a chain with a police shield from one officer’s neck before being arrested after taking the jar from the H Mart at 336 N. Broadway, at about 4 p.m., police said.

Watson, who police say is homeless, is charged with robbery, petty larceny, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.

Detectives said Watson took the tip jar with an unspecified amount of cash from a counter and ran off.

A store employee who saw the theft followed Watson and called 911, police said.

Responding officers found Watson, identified themselves and went to arrest him, police said.

Watson became “violent” and ripped away an officer’s police shield, which was on a chain around his neck, police said in a news release.

Watson continued to resist arrest before being handcuffed, police said. Proceeds from the theft were found in his pockets.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.