| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: STOKES, ERIC 0736 (AR14-12087) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF WAL-MART, TO WIT: DID REMOVE ONE SET OF EAR BUDS FROM ITS RETAIL PACKAGING AND CONCEALED THE ITEM IN HIS FRONT POCKET, 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 812.014(3)(A). ON 092314 I WAS DISPATCHED TO WAL-MART, LOCATED AT 1936 NORTH LECANTO HIGHWAY, LECANTO, IN REFERENCE TO A THEFT. WHEN I ARRIVED, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE COMPLAINANT, MR BRIAN ELAM, WHO ADVISED THAT EARLIER TODAY HE OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT, MR MICHAEL JOSEPH LODICO, WALKING AROUND WAL-MART WITH A BAG OF MERCHANDISE. HE ADVISED THAT MR LODICO THEN ENTERED THE ELECTRONICS DEPARTMENT AND SELECTED A PAIR OF SONY EAR BUDS AND THEN CONTINUED TO WALK THROUGH THE STORE TOWARDS THE MENSWEAR DEPARTMENT. MR LODICO THEN OPENED THE RETAIL PACKAGING, REMOVED THE EAR BUDS FROM THE PACKAGING AND PLACED THEM INTO HIS FRONT RIGHT POCKET. MR LODICO THEN WALKED TO A REGISTER, PURCHASED A BOTTLE OF COKE, EXITED THE STORE PASSING ALL FINAL POINTS OF SALE AND MADE NO ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR THE CONCEALED EAR BUDS. AFTER MR LODICO EXITED THE STORE, THE COMPLAINANT APPROACHED THE MR LODICO, IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS "ASSET PROTECTION" AND ESCORTED HIM TO THE ASSET PROTECTION OFFICE WITHOUT INCIDENT. I SPOKE WITH MR LODICO WHO ADVISED THAT HE LIVES IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH AND WORKS FOR A MOVING COMPANY. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS IN TOWN BECAUSE HE HAD JUST COMPLETED A MOVE AND HAD BEEN PLANNING ON HEADING BACK TO MIAMI WHEN HE FINISHED IN WAL-MART. HE ADVISED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE EAR BUDS. THE COMPLAINANT ADVISED ME THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN RECENTLY CAUGHT ATTEMPTING TO STEAL FROM A WAL-MART IN MIAMI, THE VALUE HAD BEEN UNDER $25.00 AND NO CHARGES WERE FILED AGAINST THE DEFENDANT AT THAT TIME. THE DEFENDANT WAS TRESPASSED FROM WAL-MART; HOWEVER, HE WILL BE ALLOWED TO GO ONTO THE PROPERTY TO REMOVE HIS MOVING TRUCK FROM THE PARKING LOT. A WRITTEN STATEMENT WAS COLLECTED FROM THE COMPLAINANT ALONG WITH A VOIDED RECEIPT FOR THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE STOLEN ITEM., BOTH WILL BE TURNED OVER TO CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE RECORDS. THE DEFENDANT WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED BEHIND HIS BACK (DOUBLE LOCKED) AND PLACED IN MY PATROL VEHICLE. HE WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $500.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. |
