Police arrested a shoplifter after he assaulted a convenience store worker and an off-duty officer last Wednesday.

A Petro Mart employee saw Justin Wade Myers, 17, taking cigars off the shelf without paying for them around 9:39 a.m. at Petro Mart Convenience Store at 5612 St. Charles Road.

Myers assaulted the employee when he was questioned about the theft. He then assaulted an off-duty Missouri State Highway Patrol officer who had witnessed the assault from his private vehicle.

The highway patrol officer identified himself before entering the conflict.

Officers retain the same legal abilities off-duty that they have on-duty, Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Latisha Stroer said.

“We’re always an officer, so when something happens we can step in,” Stroer said.

While making arrests off-duty, it depends more on what department has jurisdiction in the area, Stroer said. Because this incident fell under the jurisdiction of Columbia police, they ultimately made the arrest.

Stroer also added that, when not in uniform, officers must always identify themselves prior to entering a conflict.

“The officer identified himself and who he was so (Myers) would know he was an officer before he tried to stop what was going on,” Stroer said.

Myers was arrested on charges of second-degree robbery, first-degree trespassing, second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting or interfering with an arrest and possession of a controlled substance.

Myers had previously been banned from the St. Charles Road Petro Mart store on the suspicion of shoplifting.

Daree Marcel Cortez Martin, 18, was also arrested in the same incident on charges of distribution, delivery, manufacture and production of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property and an outstanding warrant for misdemeanor assault.