| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: DOWLING, THOMAS 0709 (AR12-3920) (12-321524) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF WALMART, TO WIT: PLAY STATION 3 GAMES, FOUR NAIL POLISH BOTTLES, HAIR BRUSH AND A MOUNTAIN DEW, CARRYING AWAY THE SAID MERCHANDISE, WITH INTENT TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE, A MERCHANT, OF THE POSSESSION, USE, BENEFIT, OR FULL RETAIL VALUE OF SAID PROPERTY, SAID PROPERTY BEING OF A VALUE OF MORE THAN $300.00, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTES 812.015(8). ON 122312 AT APPROXIMATELY 1637 HOURS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO 2461 EAST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY IN INVERNESS, IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER IN CUSTODY. UPON MY ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE WITNESS/LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, MR JOE COMPOSTELLA AT THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE. THE DEFENDANT, MS AMBER BELCASTRO WAS ALSO INSIDE HIS OFFICE. THE WITNESS STATED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT DISPLAYING SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR IN THE ELECTRONICS DEPARTMENT. WHILE HE CONTINUED FLOOR SURVEILLANCE, HE OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT SELECT MULTIPLE PLAY STATION 3 GAMES AND CONCEAL THEM IN HER PURSE. THE DEFENDANT THEN PROCEEDED TO THE FRONT OF THE STORE AND PASSED ALL POINTS OF SALE, WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT TO PAY. ALL OF THE STOLEN ITEMS WERE ALSO CONCEALED IN THE DEFENDANTâS PURSE. THE WITNESS THEN STOPPED THE DEFENDANT AND TOLD HER WHO HE WAS AND WHY HE WAS STOPPING HER, AT WHICH TIME SHE WAS ESCORTED TO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE. THE WITNESS FILLED OUT A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT, WHICH WAS SIGNED AND TURNED INTO RECORDS. HE ALSO PROVIDED A RECEIPT WHICH TOTALED $532.50 FOR 17 ITEMS STOLEN, WHICH WILL ALSO BE RETURNED IN TO RECORDS. I THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT. I READ THE DEFENDANT MIRANDA RIGHTS VIA PREPRINTED AGENCY CARD AND ASKED IF SHE UNDERSTOOD HER RIGHTS, TO WHICH SHE REPLIED THAT SHE DID. I THEN ASKED HER IF SHE WISHED TO SPEAK WITH ME AT THIS TIME, TO WHICH SHE ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT SHE CAME TO WALMART AND STOLE THESE PLAY STATION 3 GAMES FOR HER BROTHERS FOR CHRISTMAS AND PUT THEM IN HER PURSE TO CONCEAL THEM. AT THAT TIME, THE DEFENDANT WAS ADVISED THAT SHE BEING WAS BEING PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR RETAIL THEFT, SHE WAS THEN HANDCUFFED, (DOUBLE LOCKED), BEHIND HER BACK, SECURED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $2,000.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. |
