| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: MERRITT, JAMES 0757 (AR15-14687) ANY PERSON WHO OBTAINS FOOD, LODGING OR OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS, HAVING A VALUE OF LESS THAN $300.00 AT ANY PUBLIC FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT OR AT ANY TRANSIENT ESTABLISHMENT WITH INTENT TO DEFRAUD THE OPERATOR THEREOF, IS IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 509.151. ON 042115, I RESPONDED TO A THEFT AT 4076 SOUTH SUNCOAST BOULEVARD, IN HOMOSASSA (BELLA OASIS HOTEL). THE COMPLAINANT, MS BRENDA WEST, ADVISED THAT A KNOWN SUBJECT, MR JOSPEH LONG, HAD JUST LEFT THE HOTEL WITHOUT PAYING HIS BAR TAB, WHICH WAS $79.75. THE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT MR LONG WAS CROSSING HIGHWAY 19, HEADED TOWARDS WALGREENS. I RESPONDED TO WALGREENS, IN HOMOSASSA, WHERE I ENTERED THE STORE AND MADE CONTACT WITH MR LONG, WHO WAS SITTING AT A COMPUTER TERMINAL. I ASKED MR LONG IF HE OWED A BAR TAB, TO WHICH HE STATED HE DID AND HE WAS TRYING TO FIND THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR IT. MR LONG STATED HE WAS TRYING TO FIND A WAY FOR HIS MOTHER TO SEND HIM MONEY VIA WESTERN UNION TO PAY FOR THE BAR TAB. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ANY LOCAL FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHO COULD ASSIST HIM IN PAYING FOR THE BILL, AND HE ADVISED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ANY CURRENCY IN HIS POSSESSION. MR LONG STATED THAT HE KNEW THE COMPLAINANT VERY WELL AND WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HER. HE ADVISED THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A CIVIL AGREEMENT. MR LONG AGREED TO ACCOMPANY ME BACK TO THE OASIS HOTEL, AT WHICH TIME WE MADE CONTACT WITH THE COMPLAINANT AND WITNESS/BAR TENDER, MS TRISHA LEWIS. THE WITNESS PROVIDED A SALES RECEIPT WHICH CONSISTED OF ITEMS THAT WERE ALL ALCOHOL, TOTALING $79.75. THE WITNESS STATED THAT MR LONG HAD BOUGHT THE ENTIRE BAR A ROUND OF DRINKS, HE HAD TWO SHOTS OF ALCOHOL FOR HIMSELF, AND THEN LEFT THE BAR AS SHE WAS TENDING TO ANOTHER PATRON. THE WITNESS STATED THAT AFTER THE ROUNDS WERE ORDERED, SHE PLACED A BILL IN FRONT OF MR LONG, AT WHICH TIME HE LEFT THE BAR. SHE STATED THAT SHE OBSERVED HIM LEAVING THE BAR AND SHE BEGAN TO FOLLOW HIM. SHE ADVISED SHE OBSERVED HIM ENTER ROOM 236, AT WHICH TIME SHE CONTACTED THE COMPLAINANT AND THEY MADE CONTACT WITH MR LONG AS HE EXITED THE ROOM. THEY THEN ASKED FOR THE PAYMENT FOR THE BILL. THE WITNESS ADVISED THAT MR LONG CLAIMED TO HAVE THE MONEY, BUT DID NOT PAY AND WARNED THEM TO NOT BE PUSHING HIM AROUND. THE WITNESS STATED THAT SHE IMMEDIATELY WALKED AWAY FROM MR LONG. THE COMPLAINANT ADVISED THAT HOTEL MANAGEMENT WISHED TO PURSUE CHARGES AGAINST MR LONG. MR LONG WAS THEN PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR DEFRAUDING AN INN KEEPER. THE DEFENDANT WAS HANDCUFFED (DOUBLE LOCKED) BEHIND HIS BACK AND SECURED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE. THE DEFENDANT FURTHER ADVISED THAT HE HAD SMOKED METHAMPHETAMINE EARLIER IN THE MORNING AND HE WAS LOSING TRACK OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND HIM. HE THEN STATED THAT HE SUSPECTED THAT HIS WIFE WAS TRYING TO POISON HIM AND HE BELIEVED THAT HER NEW BOYFRIEND MAY BE TRYING TO PUT A HIT OUT ON HIM. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT THE REASON HE HAD A VIOLATION OF INJUNCTION WAS BECAUSE HIS WIFE TRICKED HIM INTO TALKING TO HER AND WHEN HER BOYFRIEND FOUND OUT, HE CALLED IN REFERENCE TO THE VIOLATION. THE DEFENDANT APPEARED TO BE INTOXICATED AND WAS NOT MAKING SENSE WHEN HE TALKED. THE DEFENDANT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANTâS BOND WAS SET AT $500.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. |
