| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: NEWTON, LAURA 0429 (AR12-3080) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF WAL-MART SUPERCENTER , TO WIT: MISCELLANEOUS CLOTHING AND ACCESSORY ITEMS, 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 100812, I RESPONDED TO THE INVERNESS WAL-MART SUPERCENTER, LOCATED AT 2461 EAST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY IN INVERNESS, IN REFERENCE TO A RETAIL THEFT THAT HAD OCCURRED. UPON MY ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, WHO WAS THE COMPLAINANT, MR JOE COMPOSTELLA, IN THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE. ALSO IN THE OFFICE WAS A FEMALE WAL-MART EMPLOYEE, AS WELL AS THE TWO FEMALE DEFENDANTS, DEFENDANT MS MICHELLE DIANE PUTCH AND DEFENDANT MS SHANNON LEE BROUGHTON. THE COMPLAINANT ADVISED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED BOTH DEFENDANTS ACTING SUSPICIOUSLY IN THE WOMENâS CLOTHING AISLE. THEY HAD SELECTED A PURSE FROM THE STORE, TORN THE TAG OFF, AND ATTEMPTED TO CONCEAL IT IN THE FRONT PORTION OF THEIR SHOPPING CART, BY COVERING IT WITH A TOWEL THAT THEY HAD SELECTED FROM THE STORE AS WELL. THE COMPLAINANT ADVISED THE TWO DEFENDANTS THEN PROCEEDED THROUGH THE WOMENâS CLOTHING DEPARTMENT, SELECTING OTHER ITEMS. EACH DEFENDANT HAD BROUGHT A BAG, AND WERE PUTTING ITEMS IN THEIR BAG IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL THEM. AFTER BOTH DEFENDANTS EXITED THE STORE, HAVING PASSED ALL FINAL POINTS OF SALE WITHOUT MAKING ANY ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR THE ITEMS, THE COMPLAINANT CONFRONTED THE TWO DEFENDANTS, AND ASKED THEM TO ACCOMPANY HIM BACK INSIDE THE STORE. THE COMPLAINANT ADVISED THAT BOTH FEMALES WERE COOPERATIVE, AND ADMITTED THEIR ACTIONS WITHOUT HESITATION. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEFENDANTS, THEY ADMITTED TO THE THEFT AND APOLOGIZED FOR THEIR ACTIONS. BOTH DEFENDANTS WERE IDENTIFIED BY THEIR FLORIDA DRIVERâS LICENSES AND ISSUED NOTICE TO APPEAR CRIMINAL CITATIONS FOR RETAIL THEFT. DEFENDANT MS MICHELLE PUTCH WAS ISSUED CITATION NUMBER 1561,9 FOR THE THEFT OF MISCELLANEOUS CLOTHING ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES TOTALING $71.87. DEFENDANT MS SHANNON BROUGHTON WAS ISSUED CITATION NUMBER 15620, FOR THE THEFT OF MISCELLANEOUS CLOTHING ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES TOTALING $42.18. BOTH DEFENDANTS WERE GIVEN MANDATORY COURT APPEARANCE DATES OF 102512, AT 1300 HOURS. . THE COMPLAINANT PROVIDED ME A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT AND COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS FOR THE STOLEN ITEMS, WHICH WERE LATER TURNED IN TO THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFFâS OFFICE RECORDS DEPT. BOTH DEFENDANTS WERE RELEASED ON SCENE. |
