| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: REID, JUSTIN 0706 (AR16-19785) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY OBTAIN OR USE, OR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, BEALLS DEPARTMENT STORE, TO WIT: THE DEFENDANT WALKED OUT OF THE BEALLS DEPARTMENT STORE PASSING ALL POINTS OF SALE WITHOUT MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO PAY WITH THREE PIECES OF WOMEN'S JEWELRY, SAID PROPERTY BEING OF A VALUE OF $34.98, WITH THE INTENT TO EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE THE VICTIM OF A RIGHT TO THE PROPERTY OR A BENEFIT THEREOF, OR DID APPROPRIATE THE SAID PROPERTY TO HER OWN USE OR THE USE OF ANY PERSON NOT ENTITLED THERETO, AND THE PROPERTY STOLEN WAS VALUED AT $100.00 OR LESS, THUS THE OFFENDER COMMITS PETIT THEFT OF THE FIRST DEGREE, PUNISHABLE AS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE AS PROVIDED IN F.S.S.: 775.082 OR 775.083, AND IS IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 812.014(3)(A) ON 060716, AT APPROXIMATELY 1904 HOURS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO BEALLS DEPARTMENT STORE LOCATED AT 2851 EAST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY IN INVERNESS IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER IN CUSTODY. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE COMPLAINANT, MR MATTHEW PIETROBURGO, WHO IS A LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER FOR BEALLS DEPARTMENT STORE, IN HIS OFFICE. HE STATED HE OBSERVED A WHITE FEMALE, LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE DEFENDANT, MS BARBARA HALES, IN THE JUNIOR SECTION OF THE STORE VIA LIVE CLOSE CIRCUIT TELEVISION. HE STATED HE THEN OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT SELECT FIVE ITEMS FROM THE JUNIOR SECTION AND THEN ENTER THE ACCESSORIES SECTION WHERE HE OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT SELECT TWO WOMEN'S WATCHES. HE STATED HE THEN OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT EXIT THE JEWELRY SECTION AND RETURN TO THE JUNIOR SECTION AND ENTER A FITTING ROOM WITH SEVEN SELECTED ITEMS. HE STATED HE CONTINUED OBSERVATION FROM THE SALES FLOOR. ONCE HE OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT EXIT THE FITTING ROOM WITH MERCHANDISE IN HAND, HE THEN INSPECTED THE FITTING ROOM AND FOUND NO MERCHANDISE TO BE LEFT BEHIND. THE COMPLAINANT STATED HE RETURNED TO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE AND REGAINED OBSERVATION VIA CLOSE CIRCUIT TELEVISION WHERE HE THEN OBSERVED THE SUBJECT PLACE TWO OF THE JUNIOR ITEMS BACK ON THE FIXTURE AND THEN SELECT ANOTHER ITEM AND PLACE TWO MORE ITEMS BACK ON THE FIXTURE LEAVING HER WITH TWO ITEMS FROM THE JUNIOR SECTION AND TWO WATCH BOXES. HE STATED HE THEN OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT RETURN TO THE JEWELRY SECTION AND PLACE THE TWO WATCH BOXES BACK ONTO THE FIXTURE THEY ORIGINALLY CAME FROM. HE STATED HE ONCE AGAIN WENT TO THE SALES FLOOR, INSPECTED BOTH WATCH BOXES AND FOUND THEM TO BE EMPTY. THE COMPLAINANT STATED HE RETURNED TO THE OFFICE TO FURTHER OBSERVE THE DEFENDANT WHO WAS STILL IN THE JEWELRY SECTION. HE STATED THE DEFENDANT THEN APPROACHED THE MISSES CASH REGISTER AND PRESENTED TWO CLOTHING ITEMS FOR PURCHASE BUT DID NOT COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION. HE STATED HE THEN CONTINUED OBSERVATION FROM THE SALES FLOOR AND OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT PASS ALL POINTS OF SALE WITHOUT MAKING ANY ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR ANY CONCEALED MERCHANDISE AND EXIT THE BUILDING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. THE COMPLAINANT STATED HE MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT OUTSIDE IN THE PARKING LOT AND IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER WITH BEALLS DEPARTMENT STORE AND THAT WAS WHEN THE DEFENDANT AGREED TO RETURN TO THE OFFICE WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER THE COMPLAINANT MADE THIS STATEMENT, THE DEFENDANT, WHO WAS ALSO IN THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE UPON MY ARRIVAL, STATED SHE WAS SORRY AND THAT THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THE DEFENDANT ALSO STATED SHE WAS BROKE AND JUST WANTED THE ITEMS FOR HERSELF. SHE THEN STATED THE NECKLACE SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEAL WAS AN EXACT REPLICA OF A NECKLACE SHE ALREADY HAD THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BROKEN AND SHE WANTED TO REPLACE IT. THE DEFENDANT STATED SHE COLLECTS SOCIAL SECURITY AND STATE RETIREMENT AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITIES THAT WOULD CAUSE HER TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT SHE DID. AT THAT POINT, THE DEFENDANT WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED, DOUBLE-LOCKED, BEHIND HER BACK, PLACED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE. THE DEFENDANT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $500.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. ALL ITEMS WERE RECOVERED AND RETURNED TO BEALLS DEPARTMENT STORE. A DIGITAL VIDEO DISC OF VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE WAS COLLECTED AND LATER TURNED IN TO EVIDENCE. THE COMPLAINANT PROVIDED A WRITTEN STATEMENT AND A RECEIPT PRINTOUT TO INCLUDE THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE RECOVERED MERCHANDISE, ALL OF WHICH WAS TURNED IN TO RECORDS. |
