| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: HESSE, NICHOLAS 0689 (AR14-9591) LONG, BENJAMIN 1303 DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF WAL-MART, TO WIT: 19 ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE REMOVED THE PROPERTY TOTALING $89.56, 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 032114 AT APPROXIMATELY 2256 HOURS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO THE WAL-MART IN LECANTO LOCATED AT 1936 NORTH LECANTO HIGHWAY IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER IN CUSTODY. UPON ARRIVAL AT APPROXIMATELY 2300 HOURS, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER/COMPLAINANT, MR BRIAN ELAM, WHO WAS WAITING IN THE OFFICE WITH THE DEFENDANT, MS LINDA CLARK. I ASKED MS CLARK WHAT WAS GOING ON AND SHE SPONTANEOUSLY ADMITTED TO SHOPLIFTING AND THAT HER MOTIVES WERE UNKNOWN. WHILE SPEAKING WITH THE DEFENDANT, SHE STATED SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN TROUBLE AND ARRESTED FOR RETAIL THEFT AND WOULD POSSIBLY BE RECEIVING A PRISON SENTENCE IF SHE WERE TO BE ARRESTED AGAIN. DURING MY CONVERSATION WITH THE DEFENDANT, THE COMPLAINANT WAS COMPLETING A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND LATER STATED THAT WHILE FOLLOWING ANOTHER SUSPECTED SHOPLIFTER, HE NOTICED THE DEFENDANT REMOVE A TOY FROM THE PACKAGING AND PLACE THE ITEM IN HER PURSE. HE THEN FOLLOWED MS CLARK AROUND THE STORE AND WATCHED HER PUT MORE ITEMS INTO HER PURSE. AFTER WITNESSING THE ABOVE ACTIONS BY THE DEFENDANT, MR ELAM EXITED THE STORE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT AFTER SHE PASSED ALL POINTS OF SALE. THE DEFENDANT COOPERATED WITH THE COMPLAINANT AND ACCOMPANIED HIM INTO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE TO AWAIT MY ARRIVAL. I ASKED THE COMPLAINANT IF THERE WAS VIDEO SURVEILLANCE OF THE INCIDENT AND HE STATED HE WOULD CALL THE SHERIFFâS OFFICE TOMORROW TO RETRIEVE A BURNED COPY. THE COMPLAINANT DID PROVIDE A COPY OF THE RECEIPT FOR THE STOLEN TIMES WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPLAINANT AND WAS ALSO STAPLED TO HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT. AT THAT TIME THE DEFENDANT WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED, (DOUBLE LOCKED), BEHIND HER BACK AND ESCORTED OUT OF THE STORE WHERE SHE WAS SECURED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE. I READ HER MIRANDA WARNING VIA PRE PRINTED CARD. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. THE DEFENDANT WAS PROVIDED A REFUND FOR THE ITEMS SHE PURCHASED AND A PROPERTY RECEIPT WAS COMPLETED TO REFLECT THAT TRANSACTION. THE DEFENDANTâS REFUND WAS PUT WITH HER BELONGINGS AND DELIVERED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY TO BE INCLUDED WITH HER PROPERTY AT THE JAIL. DUE TO PRIOR CONVICTIONS AND HER CRIMINAL HISTORY, THE DEFENDANT WAS CHARGED WITH HER THIRD OFFENSE OF RETAIL THEFT WHICH IS A THIRD DEGREE FELONY. THE DEFENDANTâS BOND WAS SET AT $2,000.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. \t |
