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Rene H. Ruggio is charged with using force while committing a theft at the Route 17 store on June 3.
The security guard recognized the 50-year-old Ruggio of Long Island from a previous incident and stopped him as he tried to sneak out of the store with more than $2,000 worth of power tools, electrical and plumbing supplies and a microwave oven hidden beneath a large bag of grass seed, Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli said at the time.
Ruggio pushed the employee and the resulting fracas toppled several racks, the chief said.
An off-duty Spring Valley police officer grabbed Ruggio as other customers called police.
Records show Ruggio, who remained held on $75,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, has a history of previous arrests for robbery, weapons violations, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, burglary, possession of stolen property, assault, theft and drug offenses.
Mahwah police arrested him and another man for shoplifting $1,400 worth of power tools from the same store a year ago. Ruggio later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, records show.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy MAHWAH PD
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