BUTLER TWP — A suspected shoplifter with more than a dozen felony convictions is accused of pulling a knife on a security officer Monday afternoon outside a store at the Butler Commons shopping plaza.

The confrontation in the Walmart parking lot played out about 3:45 p.m. when Adam P. Harris, 33, of Butler Township tried to swipe a coffee maker, police said.

Harris later ran off, dropping the knife and tossing away the $169 Keurig coffee maker, in his short-lived getaway.

He was arrested about two hours later in Butler after being chased down by city and township officers, authorities said. No injuries were reported.

Harris is charged with robbery, retail theft, terroristic threats, simple assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He is in the Butler County Prison on $35,000 bail.

The security officer told police he saw Harris leave the self-checkout register without paying for the coffee maker, investigators said. The employee followed Harris out the store and tried to stop him in the back parking lot.

Harris apparently put down the merchandise and brandished a knife, described as having a curved blade and blue handle.

“He told the security officer, ‘You better back off,’” said township Police Chief John Hays.

The employee backed away. Harris allegedly took off running with the coffee maker. Moments later he threw it away before getting into his Jeep Cherokee and speeding off.

However, a witness provided police with a good description of the Jeep and its license plate number.

Police later recovered the suspect’s knife in the parking lot.

Township and city officers searching for Harris spotted him shortly before 6 p.m. at a home on Center Avenue on Butler’s south side.

He again took off running but was caught a short time later on Wallula Avenue.

Harris’ extensive criminal record, which dates back to 2000, shows 13 felony convictions in the county for crimes including theft, receiving stolen property and burglary.

In 2009, he was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in state prison stemming from a vehicle break-in spree in Donegal, Oakland and Center townships.

The spree, according to court records, netted Harris more than $14,000 in property stolen from 17 vehicles.