A 38-year-old Marion County man was arrested over the weekend after cocaine was found inside a container that he allegedly left inside a local Dollar General.

On Sunday, November 3, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the Dollar General located at 9601 NE Jacksonville Road in Anthony in reference to a store employee finding a small blue container filled with a white powdery substance, according to the arrest report.

A manager informed the sheriff’s office that a man, later identified as Fort McCoy resident Robert Atkinson, Jr., was “becoming agitated” because he was unable to locate his “pouch” in the store.

Upon arrival at the store, the deputy made contact with Atkinson who advised that he was buying groceries when he lost his blue pouch. The deputy noted that Atkinson described the pouch, which matched the small container that an employee had located.

Atkinson allegedly claimed the pouch contained approximately $200 in cash. The report stated that the deputy examined the container found by the employee, and a clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance was observed inside. In addition, a small black scale was found that contained a “small trace amount” of the same powder.

The white powdery substance field-tested positive for the presence of cocaine. Atkinson denied that the cocaine was his, claiming that he was “unsure how (it) got into the container, according to the report.

The deputy detained Atkinson in handcuffs and placed him into the back of an MCSO patrol vehicle.

In the report, the deputy noted that the store had video surveillance footage, which allegedly showed Atkinson taking the blue container out of his pocket and placing it down near the checkout area. Shortly after he exited the store, a store manager was seen on the footage opening the container before storing it in an office until law enforcement arrived on scene.

The deputy returned to Atkinson. After being read his Miranda rights, Atkinson stated he “did not do drugs,” and he reiterated that he was “unsure how the drugs got into his container.” He further claimed that he was being “set up.”

Atkinson was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with possession of cocaine.

A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.