Wal-Mart weirdness in Kansas City lands man in federal prison

A man whose strange behavior led to his arrest at a Kansas City Wal-Mart last year has been sentenced to prison for illegal possession of a firearm.

Jeremiah Flathers was sentenced Tuesday to five years and five months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Flathers, 35, was arrested in January 2017 inside the Wal-Mart at 11601 East U.S. 40.

He was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and carrying a .380-caliber handgun.

Flathers drew the attention of store security officers because he was cutting packages open with a pair of scissors and putting the items back on shelves.

Officers took the scissors away from him and were questioning him when a dispatcher notified them over the radio that he had a warrant for his arrest.

Flathers tried to run away, but he was chased and tackled to the ground.

He has a previous conviction for drug-related charges and was sentenced Tuesday to an additional two years and three months in prison for violating his parole in the drug case, according to court records.

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 9:52 AM.