| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: AGUILERA, EMANUEL 1238 (14-141816) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF WALMART, TO WIT: CONCEALED IN A BLACK BACKPACK AND ON HER LAP 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 MORE THAN $300.00, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTES 812.015(8). ON 1011514, AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO THE WALMART LOCATED AT 1936 NORTH LECANTO HIGHWAY IN LECANTO, IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER IN CUSTODY. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE COMPLAINANT/LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, MR BRIAN ELAM IN THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE. HE ADVISED ME THAT MS LINDA HOWINGTON, LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE DEFENDANT, WAS OBSERVED IN HER WHEELCHAIR, SELECTING ITEMS AND PLACING THEM IN HER PURSE, AS WELL AS IN A BLACK BACKPACK THAT SHE HAD ON HER WHEELCHAIR. THE COMPLAINANT CONTINUED TO FOLLOW THE DEFENDANT THROUGHOUT THE STORE AS SHE SELECTED VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SHELVES, CONCEALING THEM IN THE BACKPACK AND HER PURSE. THE DEFENDANT WENT TO THE GARDEN CENTER REGISTER AND PAID FOR A FEW ITEMS, BUT THAT WERE IN THE PURSE OR BACKPACK. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN OBSERVED EXITING THROUGH TH GARDEN EXIT, PASSING ALL POINTS OF SALE WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR THE CONCEALED ITEMS. THE COMPLAINANT APPROACHED THE DEFENDANT AND IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, WHERE HE CONFRONTED HER ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT SHE CONCEALED AND DID NOT PAY FOR. THE COMPLAINANT ESCORTED THE DEFENDANT TO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE AND CALLED THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THE COMPLAINANT FILLED OUT A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT WAS COLLECTED AND WILL LATER BE TURNED IN TO RECORDS. HE ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF A STORE RECEIPT FOR ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT THE DEFENDANT TOOK, TOTALING OF $364.04, WHICH WILL LATER BE TURNED IN TO RECORDS. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT IN THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE, WHERE I READ THE DEFENDANT MIRANDA RIGHTS VIA PREPRINTED AGENCY CARD. WHEN I ASKED THE DEFENDANT WHAT HAPPENED, SHE ADVISED ME THAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT SHE WAS DISABLED AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE ITEMS SO THAT WAS WHY SHE STOLE THEM. THE DEFENDANT WAS ADVISED THAT SHE WAS PLACED BEING PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR RETAIL THEFT. THE DEFENDANT WAS SECURED IN THE REAR SEAT OF MY PATROL VEHICLE AND HER WHEELCHAIR WAS SECURED IN MY TRUNK. THE DEFENDANT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANTâS WHEELCHAIR WAS ALSO TURNED IN WITH HER PERSONAL BELONGINGS TO THE DETENTION FACILITY STAFF. THE COMPLAINANT PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO THAT WAS TURNED IN TO EVIDENCE, AS WELL AS A PICTURE OF THE STOLEN ITEMS THAT WAS LATER TURNED IN RECORDS. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $2,000.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. |
