The Lakeland Police Department is investigating the death of a shoplifter who died a short time after being detained.
According to investigators, Kenneth Wisham, 64, attempted to push a cart full of DVDs worth $380.74 out of the Walmart located on US Highway 98 N. early Sunday morning.
Wisham was confronted by employees who chased Wisham as he ran from the store. While running away, Wisham fell to the ground and was detained by the Walmart employees.
A short time later, those employees said Wisham stopped breathing and they began CPR.
He was rushed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead several hours later.
On Wednesday, the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide. The autopsy revealed Wisham did not die as a result of a medical condition and no other details are being released at this time.
Detectives are currently looking over surveillance video.
