UPDATE: Man accused of smashing Escanaba Walmart property with hammer arraigned

ESCANABA, Mich. (WLUC) - A man accused of damaging property in an Escanaba Walmart Friday, causing the store to close for a portion of the evening, has been arraigned.

Paul Storms was arraigned in Delta County District Court Monday. He is charged with malicious destruction of personal property of $20,000 or more.

Storms was arrested Friday after Escanaba Public Safety was dispatched to Walmart’s Escanaba location for a subject damaging property with a hammer. When police arrived, they said they saw Storms actively damaging property in the store and took him into custody.

Storms is scheduled to next appear in court for a probable cause conference on April 27.

The Escanaba Department of Public Safety said it was dispatched to Walmart’s Escanaba location Friday for a subject damaging property with a hammer.

Officers said they encountered the suspect just after 4:00 p.m., saw him actively damaging property inside the store and took him into custody.

Videos circulating on social media show a man smashing jewelry cases in the store while Walmart staff directed customers toward exits.

A TV6 reporter on scene said there were barricades around the store parking lot Friday evening. There are no reports of any injuries.

Walmart’s Escanaba location said it had to close for the rest of Friday due to “unfortunate circumstances.” The store reopened at 6:00 a.m. Saturday.

The store made the announcement in a Facebook post around 5:15 p.m. Friday

Escanaba Department of Public Safety was assisted on scene by Delta County Central Dispatch and Rampart EMS.

The man’s name has not been released. Charges will be submitted for review with the Delta County Prosecutor’s Office, public safety says.

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