| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: HORTON, TIMOTHY 0614 (AR08101204) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE OR ENDEAVOR TO TAKE, OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF BEALL'S DEPARTMENT STORE (VICTIM), TO WIT: TWO BIKINI TOPS AND TWO BIKINI BOTTOMS (TOTAL VALUE $120.00), BY CARRYING AWAY THE SAID MERCHANDISE, WITH INTENT TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE THE VICTIM, 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 011208 AT APPROXIMATELY 1516 HOURS, I RESPONDED TO THE BEALL'S DEPARTMENT STORE LOCATED AT 346 NORTH SUNCOAST BOULEVARD IN CRYSTAL RIVER, IN REFERENCE TO A PHYSICAL DISTURBANCE THAT WAS OCCURRING IN THE FRONT PARKING LOT. WHILE EN ROUTE, I WAS ADVISED BY DISPATCH THAT THIS CALL WAS REGARDING RETAIL THEFT AND THAT AN EMPLOYEE HAD THE SUSPECT DETAINED. UPON MY ARRIVAL, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH BEALL'S LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER (WITNESS), WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF TO THIS DEPUTY. HE STATED HE HAD OBSERVED TWO FEMALES OVER THE STORE'S VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ENTER THE STORE. HE STATED ONE FEMALE SUBJECT CARRIED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LARGE HANDBAG. THE TWO FEMALES WERE SEEN WALKING TO THE AREA OF THE BATHING SUIT RACK, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE STORE NEAR THE FITTING ROOMS. THE FEMALES WERE OBSERVED SELECTING ONE BIKINI OUTFIT EACH AND THEN WALKED INSIDE THE FITTING ROOMS. ONE FEMALE WAS OBSERVED EXITING THE FITTING ROOMS AND WALK BACK TO THE BATHING SUIT RACK WHERE SHE APPEARED TO BE SELECTING ANOTHER SIZE. THE FEMALE SUBJECT THEN RETURNED TO THE FITTING ROOMS. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE TWO FEMALES EXITED THE FITTING ROOMS AND JOINED TWO OTHER FEMALES THAT WERE SHOPPING IN THE STORE. AT THAT TIME, ALL FOUR SUBJECTS WALKED OUTSIDE THE STORE. AT THAT TIME, THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER WALKED TO THE FITTING ROOMS WHERE HE FOUND HANGERS FROM THE BATHING SUITS ON THE FLOOR AND THE PRICE TAGS FROM THE BATHING SUITS INSIDE THE POCKETS OF A PAIR OF BLUE JEANS. THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER THEN ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE FEMALES AND EXITED THE STORE WALKING BEHIND THEM IN THE PARKING LOT. THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER VERBALLY IDENTIFIED HIMSELF TO THE FEMALES AND ASKED THE TWO FEMALES SEEN ON THE VIDEO TO RETURN BACK INSIDE THE STORE. ONE OF THE FEMALES STOPPED AND AT FIRST PROCEEDED TO RETURN BACK TO THE STORE WITH HIM. SUDDENLY, SHE STATED "I CAN'T" AND RAN THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AWAY FROM THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER. THE OFFICER STATED HE CHASED HER ON FOOT INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE THE FEMALE (WHO WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE DEFENDANT MS STEPHANIE CAHILL) STRUGGLED WITH THE OFFICER FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL HE SECURED HER IN HANDCUFFS. THE DEFENDANT WAS DETAINED UNTIL DEPUTIES COULD ARRIVE ON SCENE. A PURSE, WHICH BELONGED TO THE OTHER FEMALE WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED THE DEFENDANT, CONTAINED TWO BIKINI TOPS AND TWO BIKINI BOTTOMS, WHICH BELONGED TO BEALL'S. THE DEFENDANT ADMITTED TO TAKING THE PROPERTY WITHOUT PAYING AND ADMITTED TO PLACING THESE ITEMS INSIDE HER FRIEND'S PURSE IN ORDER TO CONCEAL THEM. I OBTAINED A SWORN STATEMENT FROM THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, WHO STATED BEALL'S DID WISH TO PURSE CHARGES FOR THE OFFENSE OF RETAIL PETIT THEFT. THE DEFENDANT WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR RETAIL PETIT THEFT. SHE WAS HANDCUFFED DOUBLE LOCKED BEHIND HER BACK. SHE WAS LATER TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR PROCESSING. HER BOND WAS SET AT $500.00, DUE TO SECOND OFFENSE, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. *NOT-EXEMPT* |
