Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: CZECHOWSKI, RON 0484 (AR07003977) FLORIDA STATUTES 812.014(1) AND 812.014(2)(C)1 (THIRD DEGREE FELONY) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY OBTAIN, USE OR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, TO-WIT: A 1996 WHITE NISSAN PICK-UP BEARING FLORIDA TAG NUMBER F753LG, LESS THAN TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($20,000.00), WITH THE INTENT TO EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE THE VICTIM OF A RIGHT TO THE PROPERTY OR A BENEFIT THEREOF, OR DID APPROPRIATE THE SAID PROPERTY TO HIS/HER OWN USE OR THE USE OF ANY PERSON NOT ENTITLED THERETO, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTES 812.014(1) AND 812.014(2)(C)1; ON 071707, I WAS DISPATCHED TO WEST CATBRIER LANE, BEVERLY HILLS, IN REFERENCE TO AN AUTO THEFT. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM AND HER HUSBAND/WITNESS. THE VICTIM STATED THAT HER HUSBAND, ADVISED HER THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 HOURS, WHILE AT A JOB SITE AT SOUTH MONROE STREET, BEVERLY HILLS, WHERE HE WAS DOING LAWN CARE WITH THE DEFENDANT, MR LOUIS FREE JR, THE DEFENDANT TOOK THE VICTIM'S VEHICLE FROM THE JOB SITE WITHOUT TELLING HIM WHERE HE WAS GOING, AND WITHOUT PERMISSION BY THE VICTIM OR WITNESS. THE VICTIM STATED THAT SHE HAD NEVER ALLOWED ANY OTHER PERSON TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BESIDES HER OR HER HUSBAND. THE VEHICLE BEING A, 1996 WHITE IN COLOR, NISSAN KING CAB PICK-UP BEARING FLORIDA TAG NUMBER F753LG. THE VICTIM STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT OWNED A LAWN CARE SERVICE ALONG WITH HERSELF AND HER HUSBAND. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT'S VEHICLE HAD BROKEN DOWN SO SHE PROVIDED HER VEHICLE TO BE USED FOR THE LAWN CARE BUSINESS PURPOSES ONLY, AND TO ONLY BE DRIVEN BY HER HUSBAND. THE VICTIM STATED THAT AS OF 1930 HOURS WHEN SHE CONTACTED THIS AGENCY, SHE HAD NOT HEARD FROM THE DEFENDANT OR HEARD FROM ANY FRIEND'S WHO MIGHT OF KNOWN OF HIS POSSIBLE LOCATION. THE VICTIM STATED THAT HER HUSBAND IS HANDICAP/DEAF, BUT ADDED THAT THE SUSPECT DOES KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER HUSBAND TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO ON THE JOB SITE. I THEN SPOKE WITH THE WITNESS, WHO CORROBORATED THE VICTIM'S STATEMENT OF WORKING with THE DEFENDANT ON SOUTH MONROE STREET, BEVERLY HILLS. HE ALSO CORROBORATED THE STATEMENT OF THE DEFENDANT TAKING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 HOURS, WITHOUT HIM GIVING THE DEFENDANT PERMISSION TO TAKE THE VEHICLE AND NOT LETTING HIM KNOW WHERE HE WAS GOING. HE STATED THAT THE TRAILER WITH ALL OF THE LAWN EQUIPMENT WAS LEFT AT THE RESIDENCE AT SOUTH MONROE STREET, IN THE FRONT YARD. THE WITNESS COULD NOT PROVIDE THIS DEPUTY WITH A POSSIBLE LOCATION OF WHERE THE DEFENDANT MAY HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER GIVEN THE DEFENDANT PERMISSION TO TAKE THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS DATE. I THEN RESPONDED WITH THE VICTIM AND THE WITNESS, TO 518 SOUTH MONROE STREET, BEVERLY HILLS, WHICH IS WHERE THE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN STAYING. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE RESIDENCE THERE WAS NO CONTACT MADE WITH THE DEFENDANT, AND THE OTHER RESIDENT AT THE HOME HAD NOT HEARD FROM THE DEFENDANT SINCE THE NIGHT OF 071607. THE VICTIM COMPLETED A CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AUTO THEFT AFFIDAVIT WHICH WILL BE TURNED INTO THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT. THE WITNESS COMPLETED A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT which WILL ALSO BE TURNED INTO THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT. I THEN CONTACTED TELETYPE OPERATOR 0467, WHO ENTERED THE VEHICLE INTO NCIC/FCIC, AND INITIATED A BOLO FOR THE VEHICLE. ON 071707 I WAS ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED BY THE VICTIM, WHO STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT WAS NOW AT HIS RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 518 SOUTH MONROE STREET, BEVERLY HILLS, WITH THE STOLEN VEHICLE. THE VICTIM STATED THAT SHE WOULD ESCORT THIS DEPUTY TO THAT RESIDENCE TO MAKE CONTACT with THE DEFENDANT. WHILE SPEAKING with THE VICTIM ON THE TELEPHONE SHE STATED THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD CONTACTED HER NUMEROUS TIMES ON HER CELLULAR TELEPHONE BEGGING HER NOT TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST HIM IN REFERENCE TO HIM TAKING HER VEHICLE. UPON ARRIVAL AT 518 SOUTH MONROE STREET I MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT, MR LOUIS FREE JR, ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE RESIDENCE. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT WHILE AT THE JOB SITE with THE VICTIM'S HUSBAND, THE VICTIM'S HUSBAND GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE DID RETURN with THE VEHICLE LATER THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED, BUT THAT HE DID NOT STEAL THE VEHICLE. HE THEN STATED THAT HIM AND THE VICTIM'S HUSBAND WORKED TOGETHER IN A LAWN CARE SERVICE AND HE HAS BEEN WORKING with HIM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEFENDANT STATED that THEY HAVE USED THE TRUCK TOGETHER ON JOB SITES NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN PLACED UNDER ARREST HANDCUFFED (DOUBLE-LOCKED) BEHIND his bacK, AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $2,000.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. I THEN CONTACTED TELETYPE OPERATOR 0467 TO HAVE THEM REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM NCIC/FCIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OVER TO THE VICTIM WITH NO DAMAGES NOTED TO THE VEHICLE. *NOT-EXEMPT* |