| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: GENTILE, JOSEPH 1362 (AR15-17200) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF WALMART, TO WIT: TWO PLAYSTATION 3 VIDEO GAMES, AND FIVE PACKS OF MAGIC GATHERING CARDS, 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 $100.00, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUE 812.014(3)(A). ON 111115 AT APPROXIMATELY 1357 HOURS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO THE WALMART SUPERCENTER, LOCATED AT 2461 EAST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY, IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER WHO WAS DETAINED. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH LOSS PREVENTION PERSONNEL, MR DANIEL RIOS. MR RIOS STATED THAT ON 111115, HE OBSERVED A WHITE MALE, LATER IDENTIFIED AS MR JUSTIN TAYLOR (DEFENDANT), DISPLAYING SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR IN THE ELECTRONICS DEPARTMENT OF THE STORE. MR RIOS STATED THAT HE CONTINUED WATCHING THE DEFENDANT THROUGH VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, WHERE HE OBSERVED HIM SELECT AN ITEM ON THE ELECTRONICS FLOOR AND PLACE IT IN HIS SHOPPING CART. MR RIOS STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT PROCEEDED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE BEGAN TO OPEN THE PACKAGE. HE SAID AFTER OPENING THE PACKAGE, HE CONCEALED THE ITEM FROM THE PACKAGE ON HIS PERSON. MR RIOS STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT THEN PROCEEDED TO THE SELF CHECKOUT, WHERE HE PAID FOR A FEW ITEMS, BUT NOT THE ITEM THAT HE CONCEALED ON HIS PERSON. HE THEN STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT THEN EXITED THE STORE, HAVING NO INTENTION TO PAY FOR THE ITEM CONCEALED ON HIS PERSON. MR RIOS STATED THAT HE THEN APPROACHED THE DEFENDANT, IDENTIFYING HIMSELF AS LOSS PREVENTION PERSONNEL AND TOLD THE DEFENDANT WHY HE WAS BEING STOPPED. HE ESCORTED HIM TO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE, WHERE THEY NOTIFIED THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I NEXT MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT ON 102915, HE CAME TO WALMART LOOKING IN THE ELECTRONICS SECTION AT SOME VIDEO GAMES. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT HE SAW A PLAYSTATION 3 GAMED CALLED "DIABLO III: REAPER OF SOULS. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE ITEM OVER TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTION, WHERE HE REMOVED IT FROM THE PACKAGE AND HE STOLE THE GAME FROM WALMART. THE DEFENDANT THEN STATED THAT ON 111115, HE RETURNED TO WALMART IN AN ATTEMPT TO STEAL ANOTHER PLAYSTATION 3 GAME CALLED "THE LAST OF US," AND HE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO STEAL FIVE PACKS OF MAGIC GATHERING CARDS. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT HE DID NOT SUCCEED IN DOING SO AND THAT HE GOT CAUGHT TODAY. HE STATED THAT IT HAD OPENED HIS EYES AND THAT HE REALIZED IT WAS ONE OF THE STUPIDEST CHOICES THAT HE HAD EVER MADE. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD NEVER STEAL ANYTHING EVER AGAIN, BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO MESS UP HIS LIFE. I NOTIFIED THE DEFENDANT THAT HE WAS BEING ARRESTED FOR RETAIL PETIT THEFT AND WOULD BE TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. HE WAS PLACED IN HANDCUFFS (DOUBLE LOCKED). HE WAS PATTED DOWN FOR MY SAFETY AND PUT IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY PATROL VEHICLE. I ALSO COLLECTED TWO SEPARATE RECEIPTS, WHICH WERE TURNED IN TO RECORDS, AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE FROM 102915 AND 111115, WHICH WERE LATER TURNED IN TO EVIDENCE. THE DEFENDANT'S SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT AND MR RIOS' STATEMENT, WERE ALSO TURNED IN TO RECORDS. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY AND TURNED OVER TO STAFF FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. BOND WAS SET AT $500.00 PER THE SCHEDULE. NO FURTHER ACTIONS AT THIS TIME BY THIS DEPUTY. |
