Botched vape pod deal in Whole Foods lot leads to kidnapping, gun charges

A North Andover man allegedly chased a juvenile with his car and fired a gun at the ground in the Whole Foods parking lot in Melrose when he attempted to sell two juveniles THC-laced vape pods and they tried to leave without paying on Friday, according to police.Eric Marklis, 37, of North Andover, was arraigned in Malden District Court on Monday on charges of armed kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and possession with intent to distribute a class D substance, authorities said.It was around 8:43 p.m. last Friday that police were called to the supermarket parking lot on Main Street for a report of a car chasing someone and gunshots fired, according to police.When officers arrived, they allegedly found Marklis in the driver’s side of a vehicle and he had a juvenile passenger, officials said. He allegedly had the vape pods, plus joints, marijuana edibles, and a 9 mm handgun.Marklis allegedly chased a juvenile with the car and shot the gun at the ground, then told the juvenile to “get back in the car,” when the alleged deal went awry.Marklis was released on $200 bail during his arraignment with the condition that he stays within state lines and surrenders firearms to the North Andover Police Department.“I’m grateful nobody was injured as a result of this incident,” Melrose police Chief Michael Lyle said in a news release.