POTSDAM – A Canton man is accused of refusing to pay for gas at a convenience store and driving off even though a store employee stood in front of his vehicle to try to stop him.

Patrick R. Eller, 42, Canton, has been charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of petit larceny and was sent to the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.

Potsdam police charge that Eller twice got gas at Stewart’s on Market Street and drove off without paying. The first time was on Jan. 6. when the bill was $64.71.

The second time was on Jan. 13, when he allegedly refused to pay $42.36 for his gas. This time, a Stewarts employee at recognized Eller from the previous incident and attempted to stand in front of his vehicle so he couldn’t leave. Eller put his vehicle into drive forcing the employee to step back and he once again left the scene. The employee was not injured.

Canton police took Eller into custody yesterday on an arrest warrant that was issued by the Potsdam Village Court.

He was arraigned before Potsdam Village Justice Pignone and sent to jail.