DUNKIRK, Md. — A Prince Frederick man was arrested Dec. 13 after deputies said he attempted to steal merchandise from a Walmart in Dunkirk before leaving the store and later stealing groceries from a nearby Giant Food store, according to charging documents.
Emmett Odyssey Harry Gantt, 65, of Prince Frederick, is charged with two counts of theft of $100 to under $1,500, trespassing on private property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance not cannabis, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.
According to the statement of probable cause, a Calvert County sheriff’s deputy responded around 7:57 a.m. Dec. 13 after receiving reports of suspected shoplifting activity in the Dunkirk shopping area. Police said Gantt was first observed at the Walmart, where he allegedly attempted to leave the store with approximately $1,065 worth of merchandise, including an electric scooter and 4 large Lego sets, without paying.
Police said Gantt then walked to the nearby Giant Food store on Town Center Boulevard. At Giant, the deputy observed Gantt exiting the store pushing a shopping cart filled with groceries, including multiple cuts of beef, a Styrofoam cooler and other items.
Store employees told police they did not see Gantt go through the checkout area. The store manager later reviewed the items in the cart and determined the total value of the groceries was $646.01, police said. Among the items was a bone-in rib roast priced at $212, which was missing a barcode and would not have scanned at checkout, according to the report.
When questioned, Gantt told deputies he had paid cash for the groceries but could not produce a receipt and gave inconsistent statements about how much he paid, according to the report.
Deputies also learned that Gantt had previously been issued a criminal summons and had been trespassed from the Dunkirk Walmart on Nov. 19, police said. Investigators also noted that Gantt had been using a vehicle without the owner’s permission, though no separate charge was filed.
Gantt was placed under arrest for theft. During a search incident to arrest, deputies reported finding a black plastic stem and a glass smoking device commonly used to ingest crack cocaine, along with a small off-white rock substance later identified as crack cocaine weighing about 0.2 grams, according to the report.
After his arrest, Gantt was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center. Court records show he was initially held without bond following his arrest. During a bail review hearing on Dec. 15, a judge set bond at $2,500.
Gantt is scheduled to appear in Calvert County District Court on Jan. 29, 2026, for a trial scheduling hearing.
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