‘You’re really pulling a gun on me?’: Police say Indiana man stole over $1K in Lego sets

COLUMBUS, Ind. — An arrest warrant has been issued for a man accused of stealing Lego sets worth over $1,000 during an armed robbery at a Target in Columbus.

According to court documents filed in Bartholomew County on July 31, 19-year-old Isaac Armstrong of Indianapolis faces a felony charge of armed robbery after he allegedly pointed a firearm at a Target employee before running off with a cart full of Legos.

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class="wp-block-heading">Investigation

On Nov. 4, 2024, officers with the Columbus Police Department were called around 1:30 p.m. to a Target located at 1865 N. National Road in response to a reported armed robbery. While they were en route, police learned that Armstrong had allegedly run off with $1,059.94 worth of Lego sets.

Police met and spoke with an Asset Protection Employee who told them that he asked Armstrong to produce a receipt as he was walking by the point of sale inside the store. The employee recalled seeing Armstrong allegedly pull a firearm out from the center of his waistband before pointing it sideways at him.

Armstrong was then seen entering the back passenger side of a silver Mazda parked near the store entrance before fleeing the area, court documents said.

As part of their investigation, police also spoke with a witness who corroborated the employee’s account of what happened. She recalled observing a male wearing a purple hoodie, who court documents identified as Armstrong, quickly making his way toward the store exit with a cart full of products. A few moments later, the witness claimed that Armstrong bumped into her and told her to watch where she was going.

The witness then observed the store employee attempt to stop Armstrong before the suspect pulled a gun out from his waistband and pointed it at the employee. She then recalled overhearing the employee ask, “You’re really pulling a gun on me?”

Police then reviewed security video captured inside the store that highlighted a male wearing a purple hoodie, black pants and tan shoes. Court documents document how the security footage appeared to show Armstrong selecting Legos and placing them inside a shopping cart before passing all points of sale and exiting the store.

Armstrong’s altercation with the store employee and the witness was also allegedly captured on video. Court documents show that a former Columbus police officer was also inside the store at the time and observed the store employee follow Armstrong outside the store before he entered a silver Mazda.

Vehicle pursuit into Johnson County

The same former officer reportedly followed the Mazda as it headed north on US 31 while calling 911 for assistance. The former officer continued following the suspect’s vehicle until he observed an officer with the Hope Police Department attempt to conduct a traffic stop on the Mazda on US 31 as it approached Interstate 65.

Court documents indicate that the driver ignored these instructions and continued driving northbound on I-65. As the pursuit ensued, Indiana State Police and Johnson County law enforcement agencies joined to assist.

At one point during the pursuit, the Mazda was recorded driving around 100 miles per hour on I-65. A short time later, court documents show that police watched a passenger jump from the fleeing vehicle and land in a ditch on the right shoulder of the roadway. Police identified the suspect as Armstrong.

Armstrong was transported to Eskenazi Hospital for medical treatment after reporting that he was “in pain” after reportedly jumping out of the Mazda. Troopers did not immediately identify Armstrong as the suspect in the armed robbery, court documents said.

The Mazda continued driving northbound. Police reported finding it the following day at an apartment complex near E. Washington Street in Indianapolis. The vehicle was found to have been stolen out of Greenwood in October 2024, court documents said. Investigators are still working to identify the driver who allegedly led police on a high-speed chase.

Next steps

Online court records indicate an arrest warrant was issued for Armstrong on July 31 out of Bartholomew Superior Court 1.