[chris]

A man pulled two rifles from a locked display case inside a Muskogee Walmart and tried to load one of them before employees cleared the store and officers arrested him, according to Muskogee police.

Police identified the man as Everett Rowlands, 35, of Wagoner. Investigators said he walked into the Walmart on West Shawnee about 10:15 p.m. on March 22, 2012, went to the sporting goods area and broke into a gun case.

Rowlands took an M-4 style rifle and tried to load it, but a trigger lock kept the weapon from working, police said. He then grabbed a Mini-14 rifle and ran into a back storeroom, according to investigators.

Several shoppers called 911 as workers began moving customers out of the building, police said. Officers reached the store and took Rowlands into custody. Neither rifle was fired, and police said the trigger locks on both guns kept them from being loaded.

Rowlands was booked into jail on complaints of grand larceny, reckless handling of a firearm, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and obstructing an officer, according to police. He also had two outstanding warrants for knowingly concealing stolen property.

Investigators said they could not explain why Rowlands tried to take the rifles. A department spokesman said the motive "is still a mystery."