| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: SUDLOW, JAMES 0759 (AR2012-1496) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF WAL-MART, TO WIT: VARIOUS CLOTHING ARTICLES, TOILETRIES, AND CONSUMABLE ITEMS, BY 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 LESS THAN $300.00, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTES 812.015, 812.014(1), AND 812.014(3)(A). ON 060712, I WAS DISPATCHED TO 6885 SOUTH SUNCOAST BOULEVARD IN HOMOSASSA WHICH IS WAL-MART, IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER IN CUSTODY. UPON ARRIVAL I MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, MR CASEY CLARKSON, WHO IS ALSO THE COMPLAINANT. HE STATED HE OBSERVED A FEMALE, LATER IDENTIFIED AS MS DEBORAH AMES/DEFENDANT, SELECT MULTIPLE ITEMS OF CLOTHING. HE THEN WITNESSED THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE CLOTHING OFF THE HANGERS AND CONCEAL THE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING INTO HER PERSONAL BAG. MR CLARKSON MAINTAINED SURVEILLANCE OF THE DEFENDANT AS SHE WALKED TOWARD THE PHARMACY, WHERE SHE PAID FOR PRESCRIPTIONS. WHILE PAYING FOR THE PRESCRIPTIONS, THE DEFENDANT DID NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE ITEMS SHE HAD PLACED IN HER PERSONAL BAG TO TRY TO PAY FOR THEM. AFTER PAYING FOR THE PRESCRIPTIONS SHE THEN WALKED BACK TOWARD THE EXIT OF WAL-MART AND PICKED UP A FLAT (24 COUNT CASE) OF WATER AND A DVD. AFTER PICKING UP THOSE TWO ITEMS THE DEFENDANT THEN WALKED PAST THE CHECKOUT COUNTERS AND THROUGH THE FIRST SET OF AUTOMATIC DOORS, MAKING NO ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR THE CONCEALED MERCHANDISE IN HER BAG OR THE WATER OR DVD. AS THE DEFENDANT WAS WALKING TOWARD THE OUTERMOST AUTOMATIC DOORS, MR CLARKSON APPROACHED HER IN THE VESTIBULE AND IDENTIFIED HIMSELF. HE STATED THE DEFENDANT WAS NON-COMBATIVE AND ENTERED THE OFFICE ON HER OWN. AT THAT TIME HE CALLED THIS AGENCY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH MR CLARKSON I ASKED IF HE HAD ANY VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THIS INCIDENT, TO WHICH HE REPLIED, YES. AFTER VIEWING THE VIDEO FOOTAGE I DETERMINED THE STATEMENT MR CLARKSON GAVE WAS TRUTHFUL. THE VIDEO SHOWS THE DEFENDANT TAKING SEVERAL CLOTHING ITEMS OFF THE RACKS, REMOVING THE HANGERS, AND PLACING THE HANGERS BACK ON THE RACK AND CONCEALING THE ITEMS IN HER PERSONAL BAG. AT THAT TIME I ASKED THE DEFENDANT WHY SHE DID IT, AND HER FIRST STATEMENT TO THIS DEPUTY WAS THAT SHE FORGOT WHERE THE CHECKOUT COUNTER WAS. I THEN CONFRONTED HER WITH THE FACTS THAT SHE HAD THE STOLEN MERCHANDISE IN HER POSSESSION AT THE TIME SHE PAID FOR THE PRESCRIPTIONS, AND SHE ADVISED THAT SHE KNEW SHE HAD IT IN THERE AND THAT SHE WAS JUST STEALING IT. AT THAT TIME I ASKED THE DEFENDANT IF SHE HAD EVER BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH RETAIL THEFT, AND SHE ADVISED, âIâVE NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE.â AT THAT TIME I RAN THE DEFENDANTâS NAME VIA TELETYPE, AND THE INFORMATION CAME BACK THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF THE CHARGE OF RETAIL THEFT IN HERNANDO COUNTY IN 2002. I THEN CONFRONTED THE DEFENDANT ABOUT THE 2002 INCIDENT, AND SHE STATED, âYES, I WAS JUST LYING TO YOU.â AT THAT TIME I PLACED THE DEFENDANT UNDER ARREST, WHERE SHE WAS HANDCUFFED, DOUBLE LOCKED BEHIND HER BACK, AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY, WHERE SHE WAS BOOKED ON THE CHARGE OF RETAIL THEFT, WITH A $500.00 BOND PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. PRIOR TO LEAVING THE SCENE MR CLARKSON COMPLETED A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT, AND GAVE ME A COPY OF THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE OF THE DEFENDANT PLACING THE ITEMS IN HER PERSONAL BAG. THE STATEMENT WILL BE TURNED OVER TO RECORDS AND THE DVD FOOTAGE WILL BE TURNED OVER TO RECORDS ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE STORE RECEIPT REGARDING HE STOLEN ITEMS. THE GRAND TOTAL FOR THE STOLEN ITEMS $88.09. ALL PROPERTY WAS RETURNED BACK TO WAL-MART AT THE SCENE. MS AMESâ PERSONAL PROPERTY WAS HANDED OVER TO THE JAIL. THE DEFENDANT WAS TRESPASSED ON THIS DATE; 060712 AT 1129 HOURS, FROM WAL-MART. |
