| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: WEAKS, DANIEL 0553 (AR086958) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF WINN DIXIE, TO WIT: FOUR PACK OF "SUTTER HOME" WINE VALUED AT $7.49, CARRYING AWAY 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 LESS THAN $300.00, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTES 812.014(3)(A). ON 123108, I WAS DISPATCHED TO WINN DIXIE, LOCATED AT 333 EAST HIGHLAND BOULEVARD, INVERNESS, IN REFERENCE TO A RETAIL PETIT THEFT THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. UPON ARRIVAL, I WAS ADVISED BY STORE PERSONNEL THAT THE SUSPECT HAD RUNAWAY AND WAS LAST SEEN BEHIND THE STORE. OTHER DEPUTIES AND I BOLO'D THE AREA WHICH MET WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. THE SUSPECT WAS DESCRIBED AS A WHITE MALE, 6' TALL, APPROXIMATELY 200 POUNDS, BROWN HAIR, WEARING BLUE JEANS, WHITE TENNIS SHOES AND A DARK COAT. I WAS ADVISED THE SUSPECT HAD TAKEN A FOUR PACK OF "SUTTER HOME" WHITE MERLOT, VALUED AT $7.49. THE STORE CO-DIRECTOR ADVISED HE HAD CHASED THE SUSPECT ONCE HE DEPARTED THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. HE STATED THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN TAKING ITEMS FOR THE PAST WEEK OR SO; SUCH AS SMALL BOTTLES OF WINE THAT CAN EASILY BE CONCEALED. DURING MY INVESTIGATION, DISPATCH RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR A SECURITY CHECK INVOLVING A POSSIBLE BAKER ACT FROM 201 EAST HILL STREET, IN INVERNESS, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BEHIND AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM WINN DIXIE. DEPUTY CULBERTSON AND I RESPONDED TO THIS CALL, AT WHICH TIME, WE MADE CONTACT with MR BRANDON MEDERER. MR MEDERER IMMEDIATELY AND REPEATEDLY STATED "GO AHEAD, TAKE ME, TAKE ME TO JAIL.” MR MEDERER WAS ASKED WHAT WE SHOULD TAKE HIM TO JAIL FOR BUT HE WOULD NOT ANSWER OUR QUESTION. HE WAS ASKED IF HE HAD BEEN AT THE WINN DIXIE STORE THIS MORNING AND HE STATED NO. HE WAS ASKED IF HE WANTED TO HURT HIMSELF OR ANYONE ELSE, TO WHICH HE STATED NO. WHILE SPEAKING WITH MR MEDERER, I DID OBSERVE WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE THE BOTTLES OF WINE THAT HAD BEEN STOLEN FROM WINN DIXIE, WHICH NOW APPEARED TO BE EMPTY, LYING ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR. I ASKED MR MEDERER WHERE THE BOTTLES OF WINE HAD COME FROM, BUT HE REFUSED TO ANSWER. MR MEDERER DID APPEAR TO BE INTOXICATED AND HE MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT GIVEN BY THE WINN DIXIE CO-DIRECTOR. DEPUTY CULBERTSON THEN ESCORTED THE CO-DIRECTOR TO THE HILL STREET ADDRESS, AND HE DID POSITIVELY IDENTIFY MR MEDERER AS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD TAKEN THE WINE. MR MEDERER WAS THEN PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED BEHIND HIS BACK (DOUBLE LOCKED), PLACED IN THE REAR SEAT OF MY PATROL VEHICLE, AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. THE CO-DIRECTOR WAS GIVEN A CASE CARD, BEARING MY NAME AND THE CASE NUMBER, AND ADVISED HE WOULD PROVIDE THIS AGENCY WITH A SURVEILLANCE VIDEO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *NOT-EXEMPT* |
