| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: MULLINS, MARVIN 0493 (13-81875) (AR13-6145) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY OBTAIN, USE OR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, TO-WIT: CASH OF THE VALUE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300.00) OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00), 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 HER OWN USE OR THE USE OF ANY PERSON NOT ENTITLED THERETO, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTES 812.014(2)(C)(1). ON 061913 AT APPROXIMATELY 1455 HOURS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO BEALLâS OUTLET DEPARTMENT STORE IN INVERNESS IN REFERENCE TO AN EMPLOYEE THAT HAD BEEN STEALING MONEY. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, MR KEVIN MORTON, WHO ADVISED THAT HE HAD THE DEFENDANT, MS PATTIE BROWN, DETAINED IN THE OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS LEARNED THAT SHE HAD BEEN STEALING MONEY FROM THE CASH REGISTERS. MR MORTON ADVISED THAT MS BROWNâS EMPLOYEE ID NUMBER OF 205859 HAD SEVERAL SUSPICIOUS RETURN ACTIVITIES DATING BACK TO 040213. LOSS PREVENTION BECAME SUSPICIOUS WHEN THEY NOTICED SEVERAL RETURN TRANSACTIONS A DAY ALL OF WHICH ONLY LASTED LESS THAN ONE MINUTE IN LENGTH TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION. MR MORTON ADVISED THAT A RETURN TRANSACTION GENERALLY TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES, HOWEVER, ALL OF THE DEFENDANTâS RETURN TRANSACTIONS AVERAGED 15 TO 60 SECONDS. PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL, MR MORTON HAD OBTAINED A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM THE DEFENDANT WHERE SHE ADVISED THAT SHE HAD BEEN TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE CASH REGISTER A LITTLE AT A TIME USING FALSE RETURNS. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 18 FALSE RETURN TRANSACTIONS EQUALING $742.93. I RESPONDED TO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE WHERE I MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT. I READ THE DEFENDANT HER MIRANDA WARNINGS VIA AGENCY PREPRINTED CARD. THE DEFENDANT ADVISED THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD HER RIGHTS AND STATED THAT SHE WOULD SPEAK WITH ME AT THIS TIME. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT IF SHE KNEW WHY I WAS THERE, TO WHICH SHE STATED IT WAS BECAUSE SHE STOLE MONEY. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT SHE HAD DONE FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, TO WHICH SHE ADVISED THAT SINCE 040213, A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES A DAY, SHE WOULD GRAB A SALES TAG OFF OF THE FLOOR WHICH HAD FALLEN OFF OF MERCHANDISE, OR SHE WOULD RIP A SALES TAG FROM A PIECE OF MERCHANDISE AND TAKE IT TO A CASH REGISTER WITH HER. SHE WOULD THEN PUNCH IN HER EMPLOYEE ID NUMBER AND SCAN THE ITEM FOR A FALSE RETURN. SHE WOULD THEN THROW THE SALES TAG AWAY AND KEEP TRACK OF HOW MUCH MONEY SHE HAD ENTERED IN FOR A RETURN. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN SHE CLOSED OUT THE CASH REGISTERS, SHE WOULD TAKE ALL OF THE MONEY OUT OF THE DRAWER AND TAKE IT TO THE OFFICE. IN THE OFFICE SHE WOULD TAKE THE CASH OUT OF THE BAG AND POCKET THE AMOUNT OF FALSE RETURNS THAT SHE ENTERED THAT DAY. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT WHAT SHE USED THE MONEY FOR, TO WHICH SHE ADVISED GAS AND GROCERIES. I ASKED THE DEFENDANT IF SHE WOULD COMPLETE A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT, TO WHICH SHE ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD. THE DEFENDANT WAS ADVISED SHE WAS BEING PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR GRAND THEFT, SECURED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANTâS BOND WAS SET AT $2,000.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. ALL PAPERWORK PERTAINING TO THIS CASE, WHICH INCLUDES THE DEFENDANTâS SWORN STATEMENT, STATEMENT FROM LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER AND THE LIST OF TRANSACTIONS, WILL BE TURNED IN TO RECORDS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE IS A CHECK MARK NEXT TO ALL SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS. |
