A man who serves on the West Des Moines City Council has been arrested and charged with shoplifting. West Des Moines Police have asked state officials to take over the investigation. According to a statement, West Des Moines City Councilman Brad Olson was arrested Friday at a Hy-Vee and charged with fourth-degree theft. Olson went to the Hy-Vee pharmacy to pick up some pricey prescription meds.
Olson told the Des Moines Register he picked up his pills, immediately took some, and put the bottle in his pocket. He continued shopping and at the check-out Olson failed to pull the drugs out of his pocket and pay for them. Hy-Vee clerks confronted him and Olson — who says he had just forgotten about his meds — reportedly offered to pay the $461 prescription bill on the spot.
But West Des Moines cops were summoned and he was arrested. Olson, who is 47 years old, is in the midst of his third term on the West Des Moines City Council.