A shopper confronted and disarmed a homeless man causing a disturbance at Boyer’s Food Market in Lansford Thursday morning.

Jason Tessitore, 39, was attempting to steal items from the store, throwing items on the floor and eating items not paid for when a shopper confronted him, Lansford police said.

The shopper told Tessitore to put back the items he was attempting to steal, and Tessitore approached the shopper in an aggressive and threatening manner, police said.

Tessitore then charged at the shopper and got into his face, police said. The shopper, fearing being assaulted, grabbed Tessitore, took him down to the floor and pinned him down, police said.

During the struggle, the shopper saw a knife on Tessitore, grabbed it and discarded it away from him, police said.

Lansford and Summit Hill police responded to the incident and took Tessitore into custody without further incident.

Tessitore was arraigned on charges of simple assault, two counts; retail theft, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, and committed to the Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning in lieu of $1,000 bail.

- Kelly Monitz Socha