| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: CULBERTSON, CHRIS 0439 (AR13-8185) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY OBTAIN, USE OR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, TO-WIT: THE WAL-MART SUPER CENTER LOCATED AT 2461 EAST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY IN INVERNESS, FLORIDA, OF THE VALUE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300.00) OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00), TO WIT: TO INCLUDE CHRISTMAS CARDS, GIFT BAGS, PERFUMES AND TWO PIZZAS, 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, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTE, 812.014(2)(C)(1). ON 120213, I RESPONDED TO THE INVERNESS WAL-MART SUPER CENTER LOCATED AT 2461 EAST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY, IN REFERENCE TO A SHOPLIFTER IN CUSTODY. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE WITNESS/COMPLAINANT, LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER PATRICK HENRY. HE ADVISED THAT ON TODAYâS DATE, HE OBSERVED A WHITE FEMALE, LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE DEFENDANT, MS MICHELLE STUART, DISPLAYING SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR THROUGHOUT THE STORE. HE ADVISED THAT HE THEN CONTINUED FLOOR SURVEILLANCE ON THE DEFENDANT, AND OBSERVED HER SELECT AND CONCEAL SEVERAL ITEMS IN A GRAY TOTE LOCATED INSIDE HER SHOPPING BASKET. THE DEFENDANT THEN PROCEEDED TO THE FRONT OF THE STORE, SELECT TWO PIZZAS FROM THE DELI AND PLACE THEM ON TOP OF THE TOTE. SHE THEN WENT IN TO MCDONALDS WHERE SHE STAYED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, AFTER WHICH SHE PASSED ALL POINTS OF SALE BEFORE EXITING THE STORE WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE THE ITEMS. HE ADVISED THAT AT THE TIME HE STOPPED THE DEFENDANT OUTSIDE THE STORE, IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AND EXPLAINED WHY HE STOPPED HER. THE WITNESS THEN ESCORTED THE DEFENDANT TO THE LOSS PREVENTION OFFICE AND CONTACTED THIS AGENCY. THE WITNESS PROVIDED ME WITH A RECEIPT SHOWING THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD TAKEN A TOTAL OF 68 ITEMS, VARYING FROM CHRISTMAS CARDS, GIFT BAGS, PERFUMES AND THE PIZZAS, WHICH TOTALED $511.33. HE ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH AN IN STORE DVD SURVEILLANCE VIDEO, AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE STOLEN ITEMS. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT, AT WHICH TIME I READ HER MIRANDA WARNINGS FROM A PRE-PRINTED AGENCY CARD. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT SHE DID UNDERSTAND HER RIGHTS AND WAS WILLING TO SPEAK WITH THIS DEPUTY. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD PLANNED ON BUYING THE ITEMS SHE SELECTED AND PUTTING SOME OF THEM ON LAY AWAY. SHE STATED SHE WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED AS A DIABETIC, WAS NOT FEELING VERY WELL AND WENT IN TO THE MCDONALDS LOCATED INSIDE THE STORE TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT. SHE ADVISED THAT ONCE SHE WAS FINISHED, SHE JUST FORGOT THAT SHE HAD NOT PAID FOR THE ITEMS AND BEGAN TO LEAVE THE STORE. SHE STATED THAT SHE DID NOT REALIZE WHAT SHE HAD DONE UNTIL THE WITNESS STOPPED HER. AT THAT TIME, I PLACED THE DEFENDANT UNDER ARREST FOR RETAIL GRAND THEFT. SHE WAS HANDCUFFED BEHIND HER BACK (DOUBLE LOCKED) AND SEATED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORT TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DETENTION FACILITY, THE DEFENDANT WAS TURNED OVER TO DETENTION STAFF FOR PROCESSING, WHERE HER BOND WAS SET AT $2,000.0.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. ALL ITEMS THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD TAKEN WERE RETURNED BACK TO THE STORE IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONDITION. |
