| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: PANETTI, JAMES 1304 (AR14-12158) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE property OF THE VICTIM, BEALLS DEPARTMENT STORE, TO WIT: THE DEFENDANT TOOK TWO PAIRS OF MEN'S NIKE SANDALS, REMOVING THEM FROM THEIR PACKAGING AND PASSING ALL FINAL POINTS OF SALE, SAID PROPERTY BEING OF A VALUE OF $74.20 (INCLUDING TAX) WITH THE INTENT 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 STATUTES 812.014(3)(A). ON 092714, I WAS DISPATCHED TO BEALLS DEPARTMENT STORE, LOCATED AT 346 NORTH SUNCOAST BOULEVARD, CRYSTAL RIVER, IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER IN CUSTODY. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, WHO ADVISED ME THAT HE HAD OBSERVED A CUSTOMER LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE DEFENDANT, MS KATHERINE VAUGHAN, REPLACE A BOX OF SHOES ONTO THE SHELF IN A STRANGE MANNER. THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER THEN TOLD ME HE BEGAN REVIEWING ALL OF THE SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM THE POINT WHEN THE DEFENDANT HAD ENTERED THE STORE, WHICH REVEALED THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD SELECTED TWO DIFFERENT PAIRS OF MEN'S NIKE SANDALS, VALUED AT $35.00 EACH, REMOVED THEM FROM THEIR PACKAGING AND PLACED THEM INSIDE HER PURSE. THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER ALSO ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS RATHER STRANGE THAT THE DEFENDANT REMOVED A TAG OFF OF A BRACELET; HOWEVER, SHE REPLACED THE BRACELET BACK TO ITS SHELF AND PLACED THE TAG IN HER POCKET AS IF SHE WAS STEALING SOMETHING OF VALUE. THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER ADVISED THAT THE DEFENDANT THEN PAID FOR SOME OTHER ITEMS, NOT INCLUDING THE MEN'S NIKE SANDALS THAT WERE LOCATED IN HER PURSE AND EXITED THE STORE PASSING ALL FINAL POINTS OF SALE. THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, AT THAT POINT, MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT AND ESCORTED HER BACK TO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT AND ASKED HER SEVERAL SIMPLE QUESTIONS, TO CONFIRM THAT HER MENTAL FACULTIES WERE IN ORDER. THE DEFENDANT WAS ABLE TO TELL ME THE DAY, THE CURRENT YEAR AND WHO THE PRESIDENT IS, ASSURING ME THAT HER MENTAL STATUS WAS FINE. AT THAT TIME, I READ THE DEFENDANT HER MIRANDA RIGHTS AND SHE STATED THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD AND STILL WISHED TO SPEAK WITH ME. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT SHE WAS STEELING THE MEN'S SANDALS FOR HER NEPHEW AND THAT SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO KMART TO PURCHASE A DOLL FOR HER NIECE, BEFORE SHE WENT TO LUNCH AT CRACKERS. THE DEFENDANT ADVISED THAT SHE WAS NOT A CITRUS COUNTY RESIDENT, NOR DID SHE HAVE ANY TIES TO THE COUNTY WHATSOEVER AND THE ONLY REASON SHE WAS HERE IN CITRUS COUNTY WAS BECAUSE HER HAIRDRESSER TOLD HER HOW GOOD THE FISH SANDWICH AT CRACKERS WAS. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER AGAIN, WHO ADVISED ME THAT HIS POLICIES WERE VERY STRICT AND THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE HE IS ALLOWED TO NOT PROSECUTE, ONE OF WHICH IS LACK OF MENTAL FACULTIES IN THE DEFENDANT. BECAUSE THE DEFENDANT APPEARED TO BE FINE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS DOING, HE WAS ADAMANT THAT HE HAD TO PROSECUTE. THE DEFENDANT WAS PLACED IN MY PATROL VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANT'S WAS RELEASED ON HER OWN RECOGNIZANCE. A COPY OF THE STORE RECEIPT, A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE STOLEN ITEMS, AS WELL AS A COPY OF THE SECURITY FOOTAGE WAS PROVIDED BY LOSS PREVENTION AND LATER TURNED OVER TO CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE EVIDENCE. |
