top of page

Stoned Shoplifter Leads Police to Town's Largest Weed Bust

By: Marie Scarci | January 13, 2023


Madison, Ga - Markus Rashad Tull, a 28-year-old resident of Social Circle had an unusual request while being arrested for shoplifting at Walmart. Despite the circumstances, he asked officers if they could allow him to keep goods that were already paid for prior to his arrest.


After being handcuffed, and placed in the back of the officer's car, Tull directed the officers to his vehicle with his recently purchased items.

A shoplifting incident quickly escalated when a police officer used Tull's key fob to secure his items in the trunk of his car.

In a shocking discovery, police uncovered a trove of narcotics during the search of Tull's 2021 Toyota Camry. In the trunk, they discovered more than 37 pounds of marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, and other THC products; while in the center console were reportedly Ecstasy pills alongside three phones and an iPad.


Of note was also a mysterious white powder found among these items that authorities left unopened for safety reasons and has yet to be identified.

Tull has been arrested and faces a variety of charges, including shoplifting, possession of marijuana with intent to traffic as well as trafficking in marijuana. Additionally, the individual was found with drug paraphernalia and charged with two counts of illegal possession of controlled substances.

On Saturday, January 7th, in Madison Police Department responded to a shoplifting call at Walmart on Eatonton Road. Officers Blake Rowe and Tyler Finch arrived shortly after 4:43 p.m., finding an individual attempting to "skip scan" multiple goods through the self-checkout area.


Tull had attempted to evade payment of over $165 worth of goods. A protection officer on the scene flagged 24 items that he claimed were "skip scanned", or put through self-checkout without registering, prompting police officers a