| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: FERGUSON, ROBERT 0505 (AR14-11401) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE LECANTO WALMART SUPER CENTER, TO WIT: AN LG ULTRA SLIM PORTABLE DVD WRITER, 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 STATUTE, 812.014(3)(A) RETAIL. ON 073114, I RESPONDED TO 1936 NORTH LECANTO HIGHWAY IN LECANTO, WHICH IS A WALMART SUPER CENTER. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER/COMPLAINANT, MR JAMES ROWE. MR ROWE STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT, LATER IDENTIFIED AS MR MICHAEL HILL; SELECT AN LG ULTRA SLIM PORTABLE DVD WRITER FROM THE ELECTRONICS DEPARTMENT. THE COMPLAINANT THEN WALKED TO THE TOY DEPARTMENT WHERE HE REMOVED THE PRODUCT FROM ITS PACKAGING AND CONCEALED IT IN HIS PANTS. THE DEFENDANT THEN PASSED ALL POINTS OF SALE WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO PAY FOR THE ITEM. AT THAT TIME, THE COMPLAINANT MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT, IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AND ASKED THE DEFENDANT FOR THE PRODUCT. THE DEFENDANT INITIALLY INSISTED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE THE PRODUCT, AND STATED THAT HE HAD PLACED IT BACK ON THE SHELF. WHEN THE PRODUCT COULD NOT BE LOCATED, THE COMPLAINANT ESCORTED THE DEFENDANT TO THE AREA WHERE HE WAS ADVISED IT WAS LOCATED. THE COMPLAINANT ADVISED THAT WHILE HE WAS ESCORTING THE DEFENDANT BACK TO THE TOY DEPARTMENT, HE WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER THAT HE OBSERVED THE PRODUCT IN THE DEFENDANTâS PANTS. BOTH OFFICERS THEN ESCORTED THE DEFENDANT BACK TO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO RECOVER THE PRODUCT AND THEN CONTACTED THIS AGENCY. I THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT AND ADVISED HIM OF HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS VIA AGENCY ISSUED PRE-PRINTED AGENCY CARD. AT THAT TIME, THE DEFENDANT ADVISED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD HIS RIGHTS AND WOULD SPEAK WITH ME. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT, WHO WAS PRESENT WHILE OFFICER ROWE ADVISED WHAT HAD OCCURRED, IF WHAT OFFICER ROWE HAD STATED WAS ACCURATE. THE DEFENDANT THEN STATED THAT IT WAS MOSTLY ACCURATE, AND HE WAS EMBARRASSED WHICH IS WHY HE DID NOT INITIALLY DISCLOSE HE HAD THE PRODUCT ON HIM. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED (DOUBLE LOCKED), BEHIND THEIR BACK AND SECURED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. UPON ARRIVAL, THE DEFENDANT WAS TURNED OVER TO DETENTION STAFF, WHERE HE WAS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF RETAIL PETIT THEFT. THE DEFENDANTâS BOND WAS SET AT $500.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. |
