Man arrested after trying to sell milk crate full of stolen steak in hookah house

A man was taken to jail on Sunday night after authorities said he started a commotion when he tried to sell a milk crate full of stolen meat at a Topeka, Kansas hookah house. Police were called at around 7:30 p.m. to the Genie Hookah House after employees reported someone had entered the business and was trying to sell steaks to people inside the establishment.

Those inside the business declined to purchase the steaks and the man was asked to leave. At that point, the man became upset and indicated he had a gun, threatening people inside the business. The man eventually left the business and walked about a block, where responding police officers found him with the crate of steaks in front of Speck’s Bar and Grill.



Topeka police Sgt. Jay Junghans said as officers talked with the man, he took off running. Officers gave chase and had the man in custody within two minutes. An American Medical Response ambulance was called to to evaluate the man, later identified as Robert Agnew, 43, of Topeka, for a possible medical condition.

The man was evaluated by AMR personnel at the scene, then was to be taken to the Shawnee County Jail after it was determined he didn’t require hospital treatment. The crate of meat later was determined to have been stolen from the Seabrook Apple Market, about two blocks north of where the incident occurred. The value of the stolen products was estimated at around $150. No injuries were reported in the incident.