WPD Charges Man for Meat-Packed Pants

WARWICK, RI — A Warwick man, 53, told police he stuck a $20 filet mignon in his pants at Dave’s Market  Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m., forgot it was there, and left without paying for his meat-packed pants.

Later that night, when Officer Frank Matarese called the man, Robert L. Gauthier, 53, of 143 James St., Warwick, to ask him to meet to talk, Gauthier asked, “Is this about the steak I put in my pants?” according to the officer’s report.

Matarese said  they could discuss the matter at WPD headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive. But it was about the steak Gauthier had put in is pants.

Matarese had just watched video footage of Gauthier, wearing a blue tie-dye shirt and jeans, approach the seafood counter at the market, filet mignon in hand, at 7:21 p.m. that night. Then, at 7:22 p.m., Gauthier was recorded entering aisle 5, stopping and glancing around, then stuffing the steak down his pants. At 7:24 p.m., he paid for a bag of clams with cash, then left the store without paying for the filet mignon in his meat-packed pants. He then drove away in an orange Mustang convertible with painted hands on it.

Matarese watched the video footage of Gauthier after being called to the market by the store manager, who summarized the video footage to him and then ran it for the officer to watch. The manager said the store wanted to press charges against Gauthier and have a no-trespass order filed against him.

A brief search of the Mustang’s registration turned up a photo of the registered driver, Gauthier, whom Matarese subsequently contacted.

At the station, Gauthier told Matarese, “I was there. I got a steak. I was waiting for some steamers.; my phone was ringing like crazy. I grabbed the steamers and I didn’t have a basket. I put it in here,” Matarese wrote in his report, noting that Gauthier demonstrated how he put the steak inside his waistband.

Gauthier continued, telling Matarese that he forgot he’d put the steak there while paying for the seafood and left, saying he didn’t remember about his meat-packed pants untill he was sitting in his car. “As soon as I sat down, I felt it.”

Matarese asked Gauthier why he didn’t return to the store at that point.

“I should have,” Gauthier replied, according to the officer’s report. Gauthier apologized, and offered to pay for the steak. Matarese informed him he was being issued a no-trespass order for the market, and that he would be charged with shoplifting.

No contest plea, restitution for Meat-Packed Pants

Gauthier pleaded no contest to the charge in Third District Court Sept. 12. He was ordered to pay $20 restitution and $100 in court costs.