Man charged with abusing intoxicants

Lorain police responded to the 4000 block of Oberlin Avenue at 5:45 p.m., Feb. 25, following a complaint of a male huffing what was initially thought to be paint cans, according to a police report.

Darrell Francis, 33, of Lorain, was arrested and charged with theft and abusing harmful intoxicants and was transported to the Lorain City Jail, the Lorain police report said.

The caller noticed Francis huffing on a can before walking across the street and into the Big Lots store, according to the report.

When police identified the suspect and began patting him down, they felt a large, bulky item protruding from underneath Francis’ shirt, the report said. Officers found three unopened cans of air duster marked with a Big Lots sticker, the report said.

When questioned, Francis indicated he had purchased the items before entering the store, but according to the report, he was unable to produce a receipt for the items. After placing Francis in handcuffs, officers discovered two more cans of air duster.

Police investigated the area and found an empty can of air duster behind the caller’s business.

While at the Lorain police station, Francis requested medical treatment and indicated he had been huffing air dusters due to not taking his seizure medication for the past three days, the report said.