Police arrested a man early Wednesday after the manager of an East Ridge pharmacy told officers a man in a dress shoplifted a basket of merchandise.

The night manager at Walgreens Pharmacy, 5301 Ringgold Road, told police he saw a black male wearing a blue dress leave the store about 4 a.m. with a shopping basket full of merchandise that had not been purchased. The manager followed the man until he lost track of him in the area of McBrien Road and Marion Avenue.

A red PT Cruiser was reported to have picked up a pedestrian in the area. Police canvassed the area and found the vehicle at North Terrace and Moore Road. Police stopped the vehicle, and the passenger matched the description of the suspect.

Police also observed a Walgreens shopping basket in the vehicle that contained what officers said was stolen merchandise. The suspect was identified as William Patillo, 41, who admitted stealing the items from the Walgreens Pharmacy, police said.

The stolen items were returned to Walgreens, and police said Patillo was charged with theft under $500. East Ridge police are cooperating with the Red Bank Police Department concerning possible connections with similar incidents.