| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: RICHEY, JONATHAN 0678 (AR15-14439) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF PUBLIX, TO WIT: EIGHT CANS OF PUBLIX COMPRESSED WHIPPED TOPPING, USING 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 040115, AT APPROXIMATELY 1215 HOURS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO THE PUBLIX, LOCATED AT 6760 WEST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY, CRYSTAL RIVER, IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER IN CUSTODY. UPON MY ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANGER/COMPLAINANT, MR STEVEN WEGNER, WHO ADVISED ME FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THEY HAD BEEN FINDING PUBLIX COMPRESSED WHIPPED TOPPING CANISTERS IN THE MEN'S BATHROOMS. TODAY, JUST PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL, HE NOTICED A SUBJECT WEARING A GREEN SHIRT PROCEEDING INTO THE MEN'S BATHROOM WITH SOME HAM AND A COUPLE OF CANS OF WHIPPED TOPPING. MR WEGNER THEN PROCEEDED INTO THE BATHROOM AREA WHERE HE HEARD WHAT HE BELIEVED TO BE THE GENTLEMAN "HUFFING" THE WHIPPED TOPPING. UPON THE GENTLEMAN'S EXIT OF THE BATHROOM STALL, MR WEGNER DID CHECK THE STALL FINDING TWO EMPTY WHIPPED TOPPING CANISTERS. HE THEN DETAINED THE SUBJECT WHO ADVISED HE HAD BEEN DOING IT AT THIS LOCATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EMPTY CANISTERS LOCATED on the PREVIOUS DAYS. AT THAT TIME, I IDENTIFIED THE DEFENDANT, AS MR ROBERT HASSARD, AND ASKED HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED TODAY. HE STATED THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM HUFFING COMPRESSED GASSES AND HAD BEEN USING PUBLIX WHIPPED TOPPING TO FEED HIS ADDICTION. THE SUBJECT WAS THEN PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED (DOUBLE LOCKED) BEHIND HIS BACK, AND PLACED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE. MR WEGNER PROVIDED A TRAINING RECEIPT FOR THE EIGHT TOTAL CANISTERS OVER A PERIOD OF THE TWO WEEKS, BELIEVED TO BE TAKEN BY THE DEFENDANT. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THESE CANISTERS WAS $33.52. MR WEGNER ALSO PROVIDED ME A WRITTEN STATEMENT. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY WHERE HE WAS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF RETAIL PETIT THEFT WITH A BOND OF $1,000.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. THE DEFENDANT WAS TRESPASSED FROM THE CRYSTAL RIVER PUBLIX AT THE REQUEST OF MR WEGNER. AN E-MAIL WAS SENT TO DEPUTY TODD HOLLOWAY (0463) AND MS LORI CRONSHAW (0174), IN REFERENCE TO THIS CASE. |
