GLENDALE : Citizen’s Arrest Made Over Cost of Milk

A Glendale man became so upset over the price of a box of powdered milk that he placed a supermarket manager under citizen’s arrest, police said Thursday.

Officers were called to a Lucky market on south Central Avenue on Tuesday, where Jerome Pelletier, 48, demanded that a 44.8-ounce box of instant nonfat dry milk, priced at about $7, be sold to him for $1, according to a police report.

A sign on the shelf showed that the price of the milk was 1.6 cents per ounce, so Pelletier argued that a 44.8-ounce box should cost about $1, police said.

“The officer tried to explain to (Pelletier) that the box made 14 quarts when mixed with water, which is 548 ounces. In reality the full price would have been $8.77,” said police spokesman Chahe Keuroghelian).

But according to the report, Pelletier said he distrusted “the system” and demanded that the store manager, David Riesgo, be placed under citizen’s arrest for false advertisement.

Riesgo was cited and released at the scene and will appear in court next month to face Pelletier’s charge. If the court dismisses the charge, Pelletier could be held responsible for initiating a false arrest, police said.