she's running the baby huh who's the mother it wasn't stuff we watched you guys huh we watched you guys watch we we found some drugs in the baby's diaper she's saying that she didn't know about it on May 14th, 2024 police in Milburn New Jersey stopped a vehicle outside a shopping mall two women were inside the car along with a toddler not yet 2 years old what investigators found during that stop was something rarely documented in a retail theft case concealed inside the child's diaper was a substance officers believed to be cocaine those down roll your windows down how you doing 10:04 it's gonna be it how you doing do me a favor step out of the vehicle okay just let you know everything's recorded on body cam right who me yeah everything's been recorded on body cam I have to let you know okay alright i'mma read your rights real quick okay your rights remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in court of law you have a right to attorney but you can't afford them one can be appointed by the court you understand yes so what are you doing stealing from Sunglass Hut today who me yeah you we have video of you stealing from Sunglass Hut can I see it yeah we can pop the video okay let me see it I saw it's 100% you who me alright can you Jersey Hotel 5:00 uniform stay back to the rear of the car okay one second go to the rear of the car go to the rear of the car Jersey hotel 5:00 uniform brother you got bag in the back one of 25 2017 Chevy Impala four door color silver four year old female Elizabeth your point can I just put the baby in the car seat take the car seat out and put it on back of the car it's one or the other either take the car seat out and put it on the trunk or you hold him let me just pull the seat up she's running the baby huh who's the mother she's six he ran the all the way well who's the mother of the baby what you mean the mother who's the are you the mother no the parent who's the mother I just call her Nessa I don't know her whole name OK you know what her name is the do I know who the baby is yeah what you mean the baby is in the car who's the mother Anessa Anessa what's your name I don't know her real name is she here with you today yeah okay get your arm out my baby's in the car yeah we got your baby and I'm pregnant can I get off my stomach soon as you got handcuffs on please sir I'm gonna get in big trouble well you shouldn't have stolen it OK I will give it back I don't care I will give it back that's not how it works OK you gotta give me your order OK oh my god I'm going to jail forever please call him tonight put your hands on your back I'm not coming out I got my baby in here can you give her a call so she could get the baby can you call her so she can come pick up the baby her phone in the car we don't believe so we're double checking her phone's in the car why would you go to the mall without her phone it was dead I don't know what she wants we see this every day alright huh we see this every day you guys went in the mall together and you guys both shop with we got it all on video I shoplifted yes you did on video sunglasses out both of them no I didn't alright stay back here I'm not here I'm just trying to make sure the baby OK can I open the door I did Mike just have the squad stand on hold I told him park but oh hold up yeah and we're gonna try and see if a relative can come with the baby god d*mn can I get up please roll roll sit on your butt sit right there can I call her until I got like no please she doesn't know stop talking she doesn't know stop talking she doesn't know please she doesn't know now they gotta go on tighter she doesn't know listen to me you're under arrest okay but she listen to me you have the right to remain silent anything you say can be used against you in the court of law I'm in trouble sir you have the right to an attorney if you can't afford one one will be provided for you everything's recorded right here okay I'm in trouble what this do you have receipt for this yes it's in the car how about this it's in the car how about this yes it's in the car it's in the car that's my six six dollars it's in the car yes it is we're searching the entire car okay the entire car so I don't wanna hear okay brother 6 you can just discard the squad for now we're trying to make other arrangements fine for now you have to be a parent we need her to show up or we need her to call contact someone her relative not your relative her relative because what will happen is we're just gonna have practice come take the baby that's how it's gonna work since you don't know who she is we need her to come back and grab the grab her child and then she can make the arrangements that she needs to do what's in all the shopping bags in there no that was something no that was just something I was gonna try to uh return yeah so there's receipts and everything in those bags I'm not sure can I look in the bags yeah I never went to Victoria's Secret or nothing OK so you give me permission to look in the bags in the front I'm pregnant too and Lulu go to Lulu too I'm not going nowhere I'm pregnant I'm not going nowhere I have no my phone and everything there's nothing in here my phone is in the car she doesn't know she's in there ma'am I'm advising you to stop talking I'm gonna get locked up forever I'm also gonna have a pre trial well that's dumb then you shouldn't have stole I know I'm gonna teach you how to act like an adult oh my god because I don't know because I have no hope you got a kid and you're doing it I have no hope I don't care who money is this that's for my son stop talking how many times I gotta tell you you are you should have thought about that before you wanted to steal you're an SS I'm never gonna stop talking that's my that's the sensor right that's not yeah I took that no they take that oh she did take that perfect can I just get up cause I'm pregnant I'm pregnant stop talking no I just wanna get up stop talking for three seconds I'm just gonna stand that's all sit down f*ck me I'm hurting can I just get up for a second you're perfectly fine no but let me just get up let me just get up for a second no you ran so you know what you were doing don't get up I ran because I was I have my keys in the car can I go can I go in the car I didn't leave him in the car by himself it's with my friend I know we got them too huh we got them too everyone's under your baby's coming to headquarters no please yes she is please can my mom come nope can my sister come nope please we're past that point no no no please can my sister where's are you gonna make everything ah ah yes this one is Sabastian that's her she's walking towards Megan there's tags on looks like there's tags on everything where's that Victoria's Secret I gotta look at the skill I'm assuming cause she said Victoria's Secret and where where the sunglasses that's what I'm gonna look looking for that was just something I was gonna return I got you you get the receipts for this stuff is that I was at home that's why that's why I never return they're right there here's the other lady but that's why is that oh no that's her license but that's why you checking for warranty said she didn't have a license on her check can you check all around I already did yeah okay can my sister come get the baby please can my sister come get the baby I don't want the baby diapers to go to the baby please stop talking why can't I talk and I'm just telling you but I'm gonna deal with all this just take her down to give to to the to my friend if she's going she's gonna arrest too she didn't she didn't take anything I did I took everything she didn't take anything Michael can you just respond maybe he needs a round and he has my phone hey from we're going back to my car now how am I not able to be able to see her because you're under arrest you don't get that privilege yeah but my son I can't see my son what were you gonna do with my son my mom could come get him please if you keep yelling then that's not gonna be an option I told you to stop already I'm sorry I'm sorry but I'm just scared because I'm already in a situation well you put yourself in a situation you're grown you're a grown *ss woman this case raises four distinct legal questions each governed by a separate area of law the first question is whether the initial stop was constitutionally justified store surveillance footage showing concealment of merchandise gave officers probable cause a standard higher than mere suspicion probable cause is a stronger threshold than the reasonable suspicion required for a brief investigative stop because employees had already reviewed the footage before calling police officers arrived with probable cause already established under Pennsylvania v. Mimms decided in 1977 officers may lawfully order occupants out of a vehicle during a valid stop that authority exists for officer safety alone and requires no additional justification beyond the valid stop itself this rule applies broadly and does not depend on any individualized suspicion toward a particular passenger the second question concerns the timing of the Miranda warning Miranda v. Arizona (1966) requires warnings before any custodial interrogation begins a common misconception is that police must read Miranda rights immediately upon any detention in reality the warning is only required before formal questioning while a suspect is in custody here the warning was given right after handcuffing and before any accusatory questions satisfying that standard the right to counsel under this warning applies regardless of a suspect's ability to pay for representation the third question involves the woman who fled on foot through the parking lot Illinois v. Wardlow (2000) held that flight alone does not automatically create probable cause but flight combined with existing video evidence of theft was enough to justify both pursuit and arrest and I don't have nothing and I have nothing sir you work I don't work well and this is the only option I chose to work right you could have worked yeah what's up man we got both of them what wait they came back yeah the one was stupid enough to come back in I don't think your sunglasses are in here no one of them took this one this exact pair so going with the the Hispanic chick she took this one and the chick she took this whole sh*t right here both over 200 this one was 600 and 600 400 all right perfect uh yeah concealment on both of them from the sun glass side at least uh yeah black what are these two pairs a Dolce Gabbana black Dolce Gabbana and a black Chanel and a black Chanel the Dolce Gabbana had gold though get your sh*t and I gotta go to lower level too pain in the *ss man hello how you doing good how you doing good how you doing I just see you run past and I'm like is everything OK that one this one and this one yeah these are all yours alright you guys willing to press charges I'm just double check because if you're not you we keep the bags if we're not you keep the bags yep you gotta press charges and take custody of them that's outlet what's up that black one is outlet no that's her personal that's oh that wasn't from today yep those are ours those are ours perfect you guys can have lot of bags back here oh that was open yes there we go this handcuff is uh stuck in one of the handcuffs can we try Mike so let's just see here you can take it so you guys know the whole whole security they don't want you to be banned oh thank you so much thank you thank you one year one year I love y'all oh my god support it out cause if you step back on property we can just arrest you I know I'm not I promise you on my life thank you let me see you oh my god thank you so much thank you I'm getting locked up once I have things that I have to give him he has medicine in my bag okay that I have to give him do you understand sir I understand it's pretty simple concept okay I just want to just give him the medicine she I hope she's not getting locked up cause she didn't do nothing sit down please she didn't do anything I promise you sit down please alright I'm just gonna reach over and grab the seatbelt I promise she didn't do nothing can you just send her so she can take my kid home okay please she didn't do anything I promise hey thanks for your number to stay here this is what county Essex County Bible 5 I just want my mom to come get him where where where are we anyway you you drove here you tell me I don't know where we are my friend drove here hey I think you need to be get locked up she just not and he took my purse with my son medicine in it okay well that's not we don't steal things so that's gonna be okay but I just need to give it to him it's all gonna be it's all gonna be so I see you're right I should have never I should have never did this you're absolutely right I had no right coming here nope I hate I hate my life I hate I hate it I hate my life and I hate that my baby father doesn't help me do nothing this is why I do what I have to do I'm tired of this sh*t I should have never came outside I should have never I should have never came here you guys pulled over the car yep so how you guys know what part like you know it wasn't stuff we watched you guys huh we watched you guys watch I watched us do what still yes so how you watch me go back inside why you didn't come on the stairs um who can pick him up right now she's saying her mom and her sister haven't responded right now okay um yeah we we found some drugs in the baby's diaper OK yeah ask her she's saying that she didn't know about it the fourth and most serious question concerns the New Jersey shoplifting statute itself title 2C Section 21 defines shoplifting and grades the offense according to dollar value New Jersey law defines an organized retail theft enterprise as two or more people coordinating theft for profit prosecutors must still prove coordination and shared intent to profit not merely that two people stole on the same day when theft is committed through such an enterprise the threshold for a higher degree charge drops significantly with losses reported above $12,000 across multiple stores this pattern meets that organized theft standard that elevates the case from a minor offense to a third degree crime under New Jersey law a third degree crime in New Jersey can carry a prison term of three to five years along with substantial fines the search of the vehicle and bags was justified as a search incident to a lawful arrest once probable cause supports an arrest officers may search the immediate area without obtaining a separate warrant separately the substance found on the child triggers Title 2C section 35 10 possession of a controlled substance but the most significant statute here is Title 2C Section 24 4 endangering the welfare of a child New Jersey courts interpret this statute broadly covering any act that creates a substantial risk of harm to a minor concealing narcotics on a child's body is not simply poor judgment it can support an independent more serious charge that charge stands apart from the theft case entirely and often carries far greater long term consequences New Jersey law also requires immediate referral to Child Protective Services whenever a child's safety is in question that referral operates independently of the criminal case and focuses solely on the child's welfare balancing a criminal prosecution with a child's ongoing welfare needs is one of the more delicate aspects of this case okay who is this person to her yeah and you know listen she was in possession of a baby so who knows but let's find out about the the drugs if not we'll you know yeah I'll find out I'll get it listen stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop I just want to give him his medicine that's it he has an ear infection I'm gonna keep yelling'cause I'm not gonna talk if you're gonna keep yelling I'm not gonna yell no more I'm just OK but you but you two people talking at the same time doesn't work right I'm sorry can I talk so that way we can get this resolved right OK yes we'll get the medicine resolved that's your baby right yes who who is this lady to you that's that's my friend your friend yes can she can she just go hold no she's not listen she's not going anywhere still nothing didn't I say like let me talk and then I'll let you say whatever you need to say yes alright so that's your friend your baby right that's your son is it yes OK my friend okay he's crying right now I I know he's crying I understand it no now listen we'll deal with the medicine in a minute but you gotta listen to me okay I just want my son to come get him I just want them to come get him who can come get him my mom your mom yes so if we call your mom where is your mom live my mom live in London in London OK yeah and she can come and she can come right now can I call her off my phone I'm asking that can she come right now yes alright give me a second alright can I just get the baby please can you bring the baby right here no you're under arrest so you can't do that OK listen listen we'll get there you gotta let me can I talk to you sergeant please he's right there but it doesn't make it doesn't change are you gonna listen to me or not let me finish OK so listen hear me out I'm gonna I'm gonna grab your phone we'll deal with the baby in a minute because I know you said he has got to get medicine okay but let me get your phone that way we can get your mom to come pick him up okay and then we'll deal we'll deal with the baby you said he's got to get medicine alright alright but can I speak to your sergeant you can speak to him all day that's fine Sergeant please so this what we're gonna do okay can I just walk up I'm not running nowhere no I don't wanna run nowhere I just wanna just take the baby and come inside cause he really is really sick what does he have he has an ear infection okay are you are you on drugs or anything no do you do drugs yeah what do you do um I do um I just do I smoke weed you don't do heroin you don't do all that stuff crack no does your friend do that no okay you've been Mirandized yeah Griffin okay so we have a problem right now what and I need you to be honest with me yes okay I'm the supervisor right now okay um we found drugs on your son in his diaper in his pants oh that's not me that's not me I don't do no drugs does your friend do drugs what does she do what does she do what does she do I don't know what coke and it's not you no I don't do drugs but why would she oh my god why would she even do that that's so f*cking ridiculous why does she have your baby not you because I was inside and he was with we were the baby was in there with me where's the stroller and then I came out I don't have a stroller I had I was holding him with the um with the car seat we had a car seat I was holding him with the car seat and then and then I was like we should go back inside right and then I came and then I was like i'mma come back and then here then then this happened OK and I'm telling you the honest truth call call where's her phone you got her phone no Griff has it I'm calling him now alright he has my wallet my phone he dumped everything on my bag OK I don't even know what else he does he probably dropped the medicine and everything we got we we have everything don't worry about that can I see can I get the baby now your handcuff we're never gonna go you see my text right now right now the officer's coming he's home right now you have all her stuff right OK right now we're gonna have your mother OK we'll do you a favor cause we found we found the baby cause we need a we need I'm gonna call the mom the mom pick up the baby we're in a yellow ground you know Diaz come look at this we found drugs in his body no I'm already on that because okay that's nice okay um yeah I'll figure it out so we're doing a favor and we're holding on right now until your mother comes okay y'all just coming here are you listening to me I'm listening I just don't like when people lie cause you just said you got an abortion but in there you told me you're pregnant yeah right I got an abortion but what I'm telling you is that yes I am I I I I could still get I was I just had an abortion yes I was pregnant I'm just telling you to get off my stomach I was you know what I said it wrong you told me you told me I was pregnant I was pregnant but I got an abortion I meant to say I was pregnant and I got an abortion and you're on my stomach but no the drugs is not mine OK and then I don't do stuff like that OK that's stuff that she would even do so don't put that sh*t in my baby thing but I didn't wanna be am I gonna call him I don't I don't make that decision that's on me I just wanna see my son turning to grading the responding officers performed well overall earning a grade of B+ they read Miranda rights at the correct moment and adjusted handcuffing after hearing a pregnancy claim both proper practice their one weakness was losing control of a second suspect during the vehicle search allowing her to flee overall this reflects measured lawful policing under an unusual and fast moving set of circumstances the first suspect who admitted the theft on video earns a grade of d she cooperated physically but knowingly exposed a child to months of organized criminal activity the second suspect who admitted hiding narcotics in the child's diaper earns a failing grade of F that single act converts a property crime into a case involving direct risk to a child's safety neither suspect's cooperation with theft questioning reduces the seriousness of the child endangerment issue five clear lessons emerge from this case each useful in similar situations first probable cause built from store video often outweighs any denial made at the scene second correct Miranda timing protects an arrest far more than reading it too early or too late third flight is not required for an arrest once video evidence exists but it still supports pursuit fourth involving a child in criminal activity rarely stays contained to one charge it multiplies legal exposure fast fifth clear on camera statements about drug use though voluntary can become central evidence in a separate prosecution let us know which legal issue in this case you find most significant in the comments below thank you for watching and subscribe for more legal analysis of police and court interactions