| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: COOK, JASON 1333 (AR15-13758) (CASE 15-15302) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY OBTAIN OR USE, OR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, WAL-MART, TO WIT: A GAS OPERATED CHAINSAW WITH A 14 INCH BLADE, SAID PROPERTY BEING OF A VALUE OF $107.00, 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 HIS OWN USE OR THE USE OF ANY PERSON NOT ENTITLED THERETO, AND THE PROPERTY STOLEN WAS VALUED AT $100.00 OR MORE BUT LESS THAN $300.00, THUS THE OFFENDER COMMITS PETIT THEFT OF THE FIRST DEGREE, PUNISHABLE AS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE AS PROVIDED IN F.S.S.: 775.082 OR 775.083, AND IS IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 812.014(2)(E) ON 020315 AT 1418 HOURS, I WAS DISPATCHED TO WAL-MART LOCATED AT 2461 EAST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY IN INVERNESS IN REFERENCE TO RETAIL THEFT AND THE SUSPECT WAS ALREADY DETAINED. I ARRIVED ON SCENE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER, MR JOSEPH COMPOSTELLA, WHO PROVIDED ME WITH A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT, WHICH STATED HE HAD OBSERVED THE SUSPECT, MR TOMMY BISHOP, JR. PROCEED THROUGH THE SELF CHECKOUT AND PAY FOR ALL THE ITEMS IN HIS CART EXCEPT FOR A 14 INCH GAS POWERED CHAINSAW VALUED AT $107.00. THE SUSPECT THEN PASSED ALL POINTS OF SALE WITHOUT PAYING FOR THE CHAINSAW, AT WHICH TIME MR COMPOSTELLA MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT, DETAINED HIM, AND CONTACTED THIS AGENCY. I OBSERVED VIDEO SURVEILLANCE OF MR BISHOP AT THE SELF CHECKOUT, WHERE HE REMOVE ALL ITEMS FROM HIS CART EXCEPT THE CHAINSAW, AND PAID FOR THOSE ITEMS; TOTAL COST OF $31.78. HE THEN PLACED THOSE ITEMS BACK INTO HIS CART WITHOUT EVER REMOVING THE CHAINSAW, AND AT 1418 HOURS, HE PASSED ALL POINTS OF SALE WITHOUT PAYING FOR THE CHAINSAW, IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEPRIVE THE MERCHANT OF THE BENEFIT OF SALE OF THE ITEM. I THEN PLACED MR BISHOP UNDER ARREST FOR ONE COUNT OF RETAIL PETIT THEFT, AT WHICH TIME HE MADE A SPONTANEOUS UTTERANCE AND STATED HE FORGOT THE CHAINSAW WAS IN HIS CART. THE DEFENDANT WAS HANDCUFFED; DOUBLE LOCKED BEHIND HIS BACK AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY, WHERE HIS BOND WAS SET AT $1,000.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. MR COMPOSTELLA PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AS WELL AS A RECEIPT FOR THE ITEMS PAID FOR AND A RECEIPT SHOWING THE VALUE OF THE CHAINSAW, ALL OF WHICH WERE TURNED OVER TO EVIDENCE. |
