Miami felon accused of hiding gun in Walmart trash bin during shoplifting incident

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A Miami man was arrested Monday at a Walmart for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, tampering with physical evidence and openly carrying a weapon, authorities said.

According to his arrest report, Kenneth Cross, 24, was arrested by Miami-Dade police after they were dispatched to a Walmart, located at 21151 S. Dixie Highway in reference to a theft happening involving several people.

The call police received described one of the people wearing a white and yellow long sleeve shirt with gray pants who was possibly armed with a gun, and Cross matched that description, authorities said.

According to the report, Cross had already been taken into custody by the time more police officers arrived.

The officer who first responded to the scene said a security officer pointed at Cross and said that he had a pistol under his armpit, the report states.

The police officer said when Cross saw him, he quickly went into the restroom.

The officer followed him and heard a “metal sound” coming from inside the restroom, the report states.

According to the report, Cross was the only person inside the bathroom at the time and he was taken into custody by the police officer without incident.

The police officer found a Springfield XD black 40 caliber semiautomatic pistol at the bottom of the trash can, according to the arrest report.

According to the report, a Walmart employee had previously seen Cross taking the gun from the waistband of another shoplifting subject and putting it under his armpit.

Police said surveillance footage from Walmart confirmed that Cross took the gun from the waistband of another person and put it under his armpit before walking back inside the store.

A records check revealed that Cross is a convicted felon in Florida, authorities said. Cross was arrested and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Cross was being held at TGK in lieu of a $2,650 bond.