Right. Shoplifter thinks a shirt change will change will save him. So he changed his shirt. Thought that would make them not recognize him. >> June 25th, 2025, Flaggler County deputies responded to a shoplifting in progress at Target in Palm Coast, Florida. Employees gave a detailed description of the suspect who fled on foot when they tried to stop him. Deputies quickly spotted a male behind Dollar Tree who matched most of the suspect's description. >> Baby dog at the sheriff's office. We got a report of a gentleman matching your description reference to a possible theft over here at Target. >> Not me. >> Not him. >> You have your driver's license? >> Yes, I do. >> Real quick, before you reach anything, you have any weapons on your person? >> Just my knife. >> Okay. Don't Don't grab it. Don't grab it. I'll grab that. All right. Just do me a favor. Just put your hands on top of your head real quick. Okay. I'm just going to grab that. Okay. So, what's going on today? >> Uh, I'm waiting on I'm waiting on a lift. That's all. That's it. >> You're waiting on a what? >> Just waiting on a lift. Okay, that's it. >> Okay. It's badge. It's evac. >> Let me see it. You still work for him? >> Yes, sir. >> Why do you still got the badge? >> I was allowed to to keep it. >> Yeah. Well, improper display if you're not evac anymore, right? >> I wasn't displaying it. I was just getting my ID off. I'm sorry. >> I saw it. >> I apologize. >> Yeah, he just said black and white shoes, jeans, and fresh clothes on >> just coming from down here. >> We're just by. >> Yeah. If you want to go talk and make sure >> like my lift is literally about to be here at 7. >> Were you at Target today? >> Uh like hour ago. >> Hour ago. >> Yeah. Forever ago. >> 4 minutes. >> Okay. Well, if it's a situational mistake, my friend, then we'll get you out of here. But like I said, you match the description of a possible suspect walking through this literal area that we got reported on. So, we're gonna do our job and stop. >> The guy that went that way. >> Well, it was reported that he went this way. >> Yeah. >> Literally right where you're at. >> You just match the description. >> So, at this point in time, we're going to stop. That's That's our job. That's what we're supposed to do. >> I missed the badge. That's crazy. If he out here shoplifting, he ex cop. I missed the whole badge thing cuz Kim says so he's an ex officer still carrying a badge. I missed that. >> I'm telling that ran off that way. >> Yeah. What they look like? >> I don't know, dude. >> Someone ran off in that direction. >> Yeah, they were about my height. They had jeans on. That's all I know. >> They're running that towards towards the wood line. >> They went towards the the water over there. And then >> now you're making up a phantom person so they can go look for him and he can slip away. [laughter] Ain't nobody run past you. >> I just see him cut the corner. I was it. >> What kind of shirt was he on? >> Come down that way. Uh he had like a um a gray with a black bottom. Uh had a a collar shirt. >> Okay. >> You want to go just >> a collared shirt? >> Yes, sir. >> Do you wear any hat? Uh, gray hat. >> You said that way towards the water. >> Yeah, towards the water. Uh, he cut the corner right there and went that way. >> Toes are totally not back. >> So, the guy that you're describing is more of someone who fits the description. I just want to say give this back to me. Um, I'm going to give you your things back and uh >> you're going to be all set. >> Okay. I appreciate it. >> Yeah, no problem. I'm sorry about this, but you you know, we're we're trying, >> right? No, I get We only get a description to work off of, you know, so I don't want you to feel like >> I think it's kind of targeted. >> I just don't want to miss my >> Yeah. >> My lift is like literally here. >> Where are you coming from, bro? >> I'm coming from uh um >> Yeah. >> Yeah, but like I'm not talking about like what city. Like where you coming from right now? >> Oh, no. I I was coming from the back end down there. I just walking down this way. >> I saw I just took the back side. That's all. >> And this where his talking and explaining. He didn't come up with his full story about it's going to backfire. >> Where you coming from before that? >> Uh before that uh I was coming from Home Depot. >> Going from Home Depot? >> Yep. >> Did you like how'd you get from Home Depot to here? >> I took a lift. >> Took a lift. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Where do you stay at, my friend? >> Uh New Murder. >> You stay in New Murder? >> Yes, sir. >> Why do you shop down here? >> Uh I got a girlfriend down here. >> Got a girlfriend down here? >> Yeah. He's leaving on the gun. I understand. Well, once we verify, you know, they got video cam and all that other footage. We verify it's not you, we'll touch your loose, be done with it, and make sure you at the same time, deputies searched nearby just in case the man they detained wasn't the right one. >> Hey man, you've been out here long? >> Sorry. >> You've been out here long? Uh last year >> from 10 a.m. maybe. >> You seen this guy running by at all? >> I saw him uh going there. >> Yeah. >> So I I I didn't see nothing. >> Did you see? >> Just he was over there. >> Kim said people don't always shop in the areas they live in. No, that's very true. We went to another town just to go to the outlets the other day. Um, but once that once we know we're watching the shoplift and body cam, it becomes suspicious. But yes, overall people go out of town all the time to shop cuz they they place don't always have the stores that they want. [laughter] >> And you coming back and you go again, I think twice. >> What was he wearing? >> What color was his shirt? >> It's a blue guy. >> Was it the same blue shirt he has on? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I saw him. >> Did he have his backpack the whole time? I I did not see. >> No problem. Thank you. >> So, how did he end up here? >> Lift. >> Lift. >> Lives in to New Samra. >> Lift from New Samra to here. >> New Samra to Home Depot then lift to here. >> Yeah. >> Why are you here though? >> I was meeting a girl here. >> What's her name? >> Her name's Jessica. >> Jessica? What? >> Wheeler. >> And where are you going? >> I'm going home right now. >> Oh. Where's she at? >> She left. She's gone. That's why I was walking to get the lift. That's I'm a lift driver. I have to wait or what? >> Yeah, you can't you can't take them right now. >> Okay, I'll go. >> So, uh, >> I came here. >> Why were you back here though? >> I was meeting my girl. >> Oh, okay. >> That's all. I was walking back, you know. Didn't >> Were you in Target at all? >> That lift driver can go ahead and pick up his next ride cuz he not getting this one. It's a done deal. Uh earlier like an hour ago. >> Okay. Did you buy anything? >> Yes, I did. >> What' you buy? >> I bought that right there and some milk and stuff like that. >> Did you go back in at all after that? >> Nope. >> You never went in there and stole anything and ran? >> No, I did not. >> They have good video. >> Okay. >> It's not going to show you on video. >> Wasn't me. >> One more time. >> Tell me the description of the person that you saw run over. >> Was probably about my eyes. >> What was he wearing? had like a gray with black bottom. And >> what kind of shirt was it? >> It was a collared shirt. >> It was a polo. >> Yeah, polo shirt. >> It was a polo shirt. And he had a gray hat. And he was wearing jeans. Yes. >> And what kind of shoes? >> Uh he had like white shoes. >> He had white shoes. >> Hello. >> Okay. >> Hang tight. Um >> I have I have Jessica on the phone. >> She can vouch to my whereabouts. >> Pardon me. >> Jessica on the phone. She can vouch to my whereabouts. >> Okay. I'm so >> right now. >> They're checking the target video. It's not you. If it's not you, give you your knife back. You're good to go. You gave me a fair a fairly decent description. >> Target quickly reviewed surveillance video and sent photos of the suspect to deputies phones. Well, I feel like I said too much already, but Kim says, "Do we believe he is the culprit?" >> All right. Before I ask you anything, I'm going to read you your rights. Okay. >> All right. >> All right. Right. Remain silently. Do you understand these rights? >> Yes. >> All right. With these in mind, will you speak to me? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. So they have pictures here. Is this and they positively identified you and so what's what's going on? What's going on today? They have pictures of you taking the stuff off the shelves and you're wearing the gray polo. So just talk. >> We just want you to be straight up and honest with us because it, you know, >> man, I I I did I took some some business suits for my my daughter, my little girl, because I couldn't really afford to get them and and that's what I did. And I have them in my bag. >> You have bathing suits? >> Yes. His bathing suits have bag. Yes, I do. >> With the shirt that you're wearing, the hole. >> Yeah. >> Where did Where's that at? >> It's over there. >> You dumped it over there behind the >> Where over there? Like just tell me where it's at. >> Behind that white. >> Ah, I don't trust I was just thinking about this. Okay, my my brain went from now. Why would you steal bathing suits for your daughter? It can't be that serious. Now my mind went to the more darker places cuz I be seeing too many predator type videos. So I need them to investigate why is he buying kids bathing suits. I just need just go ahead and follow the whole thread cuz I don't you know it's better to eliminate the possibility than to let it be hanging and there's a victim out there that can be helped cuz what >> the big white unit Okay. Besides like the bathing suits, is there anything else? Like do you like the the tea and the milk? >> No, I paid for all that. >> You have receipts? >> Uh, yes, I should. If not, then it's should be at the register that I was at that I >> Okay. Do me a favor. Don't >> just set the bag down. >> Yeah. The receipt should be in there. If not, like I said, it's it's definitely in there. Uh, paid with my EBT card. >> With an EBT card? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, what you took in here is just the uh the bit. Don't don't open it. I'm just asking you. So, you just >> Man, do you lose EBT benefits if you start going to jail for stealing? Probably not the first or second time cuz I feel like it do be people on EBT that we see and they just be out there having a whole career of stealing. But, um, we've had a couple EBT holders today on the body cam. You just took the bathing suits and things in here. Okay. Do you mind if I >> Yeah, please. >> Look inside the bag. Can you just do me a favor and step away from the bag a little bit? >> Yeah. [snorts] Yeah, bathing suits full. I don't like this. I don't like that he got a gallon of milk and and kids bathing suits. I I don't like it. I know this is I don't think that we're going to find anything else besides him shoplifting on here, but I just feel like somebody should look into him. >> [snorts] >> Can you buy the food and everything? >> Yeah, that would be pretty smart. Okay. You said you paid for the lighters. >> Yeah. Well, I had them in my house. >> You had those already? >> Okay. >> Has anyone spoken to Target at all? >> Do you want What's up? >> It was this too. I'm sorry. Yeah. >> What's in your back pocket you're reaching for? >> This the cord. >> What do you want to do with that? >> That was something I took. >> You took that from Target? Yes. >> Grab that. Deputy Joseph. Deputy Joseph, if you want to gather those items, the swimwear and the cord >> and then have that. >> Yeah. >> You want you can lean back against this, whatever you want to do. >> Hey, real quick. >> At any point in your life, have you ever been charged and or convicted with retail theft or any type of theft or shoplifting or any sort of theft at all? >> Yes. When was that? When and where? >> Uh, it was um New Smrna. >> New Smrna. >> Yep. And it was almost a year ago. >> About a year ago. Did you go to court for it? >> Yes. >> And how'd that turn out? >> Um, I was on probation. >> On probation. Okay. So, there was some form of punishment so all right. Just wanted to verify. All right. So, someone can do me a favor. Turn around. Is there anybody in your bag? Take this, please. >> Thank you. >> You're just being secure for right now. Okay. >> It's not too tight, right? No, it's fine. >> All right. Okay. You can turn back on right now. Sharon. Um, I forgot about the badge. I forgot about the badge, too. Sharon says something's not right about him. Children, bathing suits, and a badge in his wallet. It's some I don't like it, you know. And like I said, it's better to rule it out. So, yeah. I I feel like we're on the same wavelength with this one. >> What's the difference between, you know, a minute ago and now? Why you have to secure me now? >> Pardon me. Why you have to secure me now and not like a minute ago? >> I mean, I could have done Yeah. I mean, I could have done it a minute ago. Could we could have done it when we showed up, but >> Yeah. Yes, sir. >> Well, they're electing to pursue charges >> today in reference to shoplifting, sir. So, being it's a misdemeanor exception. You were caught with the stolen items, you may place under arrest for shoplifting. Okay. You're also going to be trespassed from the Palm Coast Card. You're not getting charged with trespassing. It's just a warning saying you're no longer allowed to be at this time. >> So, >> all right. We're going to come over to the car. I'm going to have to search you before you get into the car, but we'll do that over there. All right. Do me a favor. Spread your feet apart. You got anything in your pockets? >> Not going to bite you or anything. >> Nothing that's going to hurt you. All right. >> You're not still on probation, are you? >> Uh, yes. Actually, I was just getting off. >> Okay, so you're still actively on moving. >> Make sure that I'm sorry, that ID. Make sure it stays with my wallet. >> Just put that. Make sure that we'll ask him about that in a minute. >> What's the stuff in your back pocket, man? I think they just pulled out a piece of foil. I think that's what that was. >> Food. >> The stuff that he's pulling out of your back pocket. >> Yeah. It's all food. Crap. >> That's not That's not food. You and I both know that's not food. >> Be honest with me. What What do we got here? >> So, if I go and test it, what's it going to come out to be? Nah, you can't have a some foil in your back pocket. That's probably for crack or meth and then um you're stealing children's bathing suit. Investigate him. All right. Have you have a seat over here? Do me a favor. Move over here real quick. >> All right. Stay right there real quick. All right. Grab your seat belt. Do me a favor. Just take a step to the side. All right. I know it's pretty cramped in there. >> Grab. >> All right. Watch that. >> Crank up the air for >> testing. >> Yeah. Deputies gave him one more chance to come clean about what was in his back pocket. He admitted it was drugs, then suddenly made a surprising offer, likely hoping for reduced charges. >> Listen, man. I mean, I need you to be honest with me. So, what's inside the capsule with your team? What is that? We're going to we're going to test that. >> I just I just want you just to be honest, >> so we at least be safe. Yeah, >> it's uh >> fentanyl. >> It's fentanyl. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. And and uh what what's what's in the uh temp oil? >> Uh that's what I use to smoke it. >> That's what you need to smoke it with. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Well, I appreciate you being honest with me, man. And you use the little pen there to smoke it. That little tube. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> I can tell you guys where to get it from. >> You can tell us where Okay. I'll talk to you about that in a second. Um, you getting it over here in Fly? >> No. >> You are? >> No. >> Who are you getting it from? >> Carlos. >> Carlos? >> Yep. >> You're gonna be able to tell me where Carlos is located? >> Just hang tight. Okay. >> Okay. I'll talk to you in a minute. >> On the way to jail, the suspect made a startling admission to deputies. >> What? >> We were going to the jail until you told us that you ingested all I asked you. You said it's in you. more said if I had anything else. >> Well, weed is narcotics. >> Yes, it is. It's a scheduled substance. >> They're just going to have to check you out and >> it's not going to take them. >> Yeah. And then we'll be on our way to the jail. >> He was arrested for pettit theft. third or subsequent conviction, possession of fentinel, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of probation. Under Florida law, the petite theft charge was upgraded to a felony due to his prior convictions. He >> Wow. We got one that was actually upgraded, y'all. It's all it's every time I watch it's reduced, reduced, reduced. But because of his history, he went from petty theft to a felony charge. Okay. Um, and they actually took him to the hospital for ingesting, I think he said, marijuana. Um, but they took him to the hospital to make sure he don't, you know, clock out on them. Was cleared at the hospital, then taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall inmate detention facility where he's being held on a $16,000 bond. >> Just like last time. Do a favor. Stand right here. >> There we go. All right. Have a seat. Okay, that one took some wild turns. We went from shoplifting to investigate that man, find out does he have a daughter? Number one, does he actually even have a daughter? Um to a lot of stuff on him, and then upgraded to a felony. Okay, this is the last one. I saved this one. This one isn't shoplifting. This a woman tried to rob this 80-year-old