| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: RUBY, SAMUEL 0562 (AR12124728) DID UNLAWFULLY, WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY INJURE OR DAMAGE CERTAIN PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM (DOLLAR GENERAL STORE), TO-WIT: BROKEN CEILING SUPPORTS AND TILES AND COMPUTER DAMAGE, SAID DAMAGE BEING OF A VALUE OF OVER $1,000.00, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTES 806.13(1)(A) AND 806.13(1)(B)3. ON 020712, I RESPONDED TO 6798 WEST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY IN CRYSTAL RIVER, IN REFERENCE TO AN UNKNOWN CALL. UPON ARRIVING AT THE DOLLAR GENERAL STORE I OBSERVED THREE BLACK MALES AT THE CHECK OUT COUNTER. DEPUTY WEATHERFORD AND I ASKED THE CLERK IF SHE HAD CALLED 911 AND SHE ADVISED NO. WE ALSO ASKED OTHER CUSTOMERS INSIDE THE BUSINESS AND THEY STATED NO. WE ADVISED THAT WE WERE NOT ALLOWING ANYONE TO LEAVE THE STORE UNTIL A THOROUGH CHECK WAS DONE BY THIS DETECTIVE. DEPUTY WEATHERFORD STAYED AT THE FRONT DOORS OF THE STORE AS I WENT TO THE REAR TO CHECK BATHROOM AND STORAGE ROOM. I DID NOT LOCATE ANYONE IN THE RESTROOM OR IN THE EMPLOYEES' RESTROOM. THE CLERK AND I WENT INTO THE RECEIVING AREA WHERE THE MANAGER'S OFFICE WAS LOCATED. I ASKED THE CLERK IF ANYONE WAS IN THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND SHE STATED NO. AS I OPENED THE DOOR I OBSERVED CEILING TILES SCATTERED ALONG THE FLOOR AND ON THE COMPUTER DESK. AT THAT TIME I RESPONDED BACK TO THE FRONT OF THE STORE WHERE WE DETAINED THE THREE BLACK MALES. UPON WATCHING THE VIDEO I OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT, MR CHRISTOPHER EPPS, ENTER THE RECEIVING ROOM, WALK PAST THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND ATTEMPT TO CLIMB THE WALL. THE DEFENDANT NEVER REACHED THE ROOF OF THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, GOT DOWN AND RAN FURTHER INTO THE RECEIVING ROOM. LATER IT SHOWED THE DEFENDANT RETURNED TO THE WALL AND CLIMB ON TOP OF THE MANAGER'S OFFICE. THERE WAS ALSO VIDEO INSIDE THE MANAGER'S OFFICE WHICH SHOWED THE CEILING TILES FALLING INTO THE OFFICE. THE DEFENDANT ALSO ENTERED THE OFFICE THROUGH THE ROOF. I OBSERVED A SHOE PRINT ON A CEILING TILE LYING IN THE FLOOR OF THE MANAGER'S OFFICE. I DID NOT OBSERVE THE DEFENDANT LOOKING THROUGHOUT THE OFFICE. THE DEFENDANT DID NOT GO INTO ANY DRAWERS OR PICK UP ANY ITEMS FROM THE MANAGER'S OFFICE. OTHER DAMAGE TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE INCLUDED A BROKEN DOOR FRAME WHERE IT APPEARED THE DEFENDANT TRIED TO EXIT THE MANAGER'S OFFICE. I TOOK THE CEILING TILE TO THE FRONT OF THE BUSINESS WHERE THE DEFENDANT WAS SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT TO SEE THE BOTTOM OF HIS SHOE. THE DEFENDANT LIFTED UP HIS RIGHT FOOT AND I OBSERVED A SIMILAR PATTERN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DEFENDANT'S RIGHT SHOE WHICH APPEARED TO BE THE SAME AS THE PRINT ON THE CEILING TILE. THE CLERK ADVISED THE DEFENDANT HAD NO BUSINESS IN THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND SHE WAS CALLING THE STORE MANAGER. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT WHY HE WAS IN THE MANAGERS' OFFICE AND HE ADVISED THAT IT WAS ACCIDENTAL. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT WHY HE WAS ON THE ROOF OF THE OFFICE AND HE ADVISED HE WAS HIDING AND THAT HE THOUGHT OTHER PEOPLE WERE THERE TO BEAT HIM UP. IT SHOULD BE NOTED, WE HAD DISPATCH RECALL THE NUMBER THAT CALLED 911 AND THE DEFENDANT'S CELL PHONE RANG WITH DISPATCH ON THE LINE. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT WHY HE HAD CALLED 911 AND AGAIN HE STATED HE THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BEAT HIM UP. CHECKING THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE DEFENDANT'S FRIEND, MR KEVIN EPPS, WHO PROVIDED A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE. HE ALSO ADVISED THAT HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED FOR FAILURE TO PAY TRAFFIC FINES AND CONFIRMED THROUGH TELETYPE. DEFENDANT CHRISTOPHER EPPS WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY BY DEPUTIES ON SCENE. MR KEVIN EPPS WAS ALSO PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR CARRYING A SUSPENDING DRIVER'S LICENSE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. DEFENDANT CHRISTOPHER EPPS' BOND WAS SET AT $1,000.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. DEFENDANT KEVIN EPPS' BOND WAS SET AT $250.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. VIDEO WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE DOLLAR GENERAL AND TURNED IN TO EVIDENCE. I SPOKE WITH THE STORE MANAGER AND SHE ADVISED THERE WAS POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE COMPUTER AND THAT SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO RESPOND AND ACCESS THE DAMAGES. WHEN I ASKED FOR THE ESTIMATED COST TO CORRECT DAMAGES THE MANAGER ADVISED OVER $1,000.00. "If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator at the Office of the Trial Court Administrator, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 North Apopka Avenue, Inverness, Florida 34450, Telephone (352) 341-6700, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.” *NOT-EXEMPT* |
