FARMINGTON — A Carthage man was arrested Tuesday on a charge of theft by deception after police say he tried to return an item he didn’t pay for at Walmart.

Casey J. Smith, 28, picked up a calculator valued at $90 Tuesday at the Farmington store and then took it to customer service and tried to return it, according to Farmington Officer Ryan Rosie’s report.

A loss-prevention clerk became suspicious and called police, Bonnie Pomeroy, police secretary, said. 

Store clerks realized it was part of their inventory but had not been purchased as they checked on the return without a receipt, she said.

Smith, who was on bail for another unrelated incident, was arrested on charges of theft and violation of conditions of release.

He was taken to Franklin County Detention Center, where he remained Wednesday with bail set at $1,000 cash, according to a jail officer.

abryant@sunjournal.com