So he's playing in a vehicle. Well, I got my cousin coming to beat me up, though. I can't wait for my cousin to come beat me up. I don't I don't I'm not stealing. I gave her the nails back. There's something undeniably satisfying about seeing the panic wash over a criminal's face, that split second when they realize they didn't actually get away with it. One moment they're smug and overconfident thinking they've pulled it off. The next their whole demeanor shifts to pure regret as the cops come out of nowhere and shut it all down. Yeah, bathing suits. Deputies in Flagler County, Florida respond to a shoplifting in progress at Target in Palm Coast. The suspect fled on foot and officers soon found a man nearby matching most of the description. Flagler County Sheriff's Office. Yeah, we got a report of a gentleman matching your description reference to a possible theft over here at Target. Not me. Not you? You have your driver's license on you or something on your person? Yes, I do. Real quick, before you reach anything, you have any weapons on your person? >> Just my knife. All right. Don't don't don't grab it. Don't grab it. I'll The man denies involvement, claiming he's waiting for a lift ride and trying to meet his girlfriend, Jessica. He provides inconsistent details about where he came from and what he was doing. >> Grab that. All right, just do me a favor, just put your hands on top of your head real quick. Okay. Just let me grab that. Okay. [Music] So, what's going on today? I'm waiting on I'm waiting on a lift. That's all. You waiting on a what? Just waiting on a lift. >> Okay. That's it. Okay. [Music] What's with badge? I got EBT Let me see it. [Music] You still work for them? Yes, sir. Why do you still have the badge? I was allowed that to keep it. Yeah? In plain for display if you're not EBT anymore, right? I wasn't displaying it. I was just getting my ID out, so I'm sorry. I saw it. Oh, I apologize. Whiskey 325 Huh? He just said black Yeah. He just said black and white shoes, jeans, and fresh clothes on, so He's just coming from down here. We're just standing by. >> Yeah, if you want to go talk to him, make sure it's not Like my lift is literally supposed to be here in a second. Were you at Target today? Uh like hour ago. Hour ago? Yeah. 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 this possible suspect walking through this little area that we got reported on. So, we're going to do our job and stop that guy. >> 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 you. That's that's our job. That's what we're supposed to do. [Music] I'm going to tell Target. You know there was someone that ran off that way? Deputies canvass the area and question witnesses who confirm seeing someone wearing a blue or gray polo shirt and jeans running near the location matching the suspect's clothing. Hey, man, you been out here long? Sorry? You been out here long? Uh I didn't show up until here. Um 10:00 a.m. maybe. You seen this guy running by at all? I saw him uh running there. Yeah? So, I I I didn't see nothing. Did you see Just he was over there and he coming back and he go again. He did 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 didn't see. No problem. Thank you. So, how did he end up here? Lift. Lift? Lift from New Smyrna. A lift from New Smyrna to here? New Smyrna to Home Depot then lift to here. Yeah. Why are you here, though? I was meeting a girl here. Target reviews surveillance footage and sends still images to deputies confirming the detained man is indeed the shoplifter. When confronted, he admits stealing bathing suits for his daughter saying he couldn't afford them. Just go in the front. She can vouch for my whereabouts. Okay. I 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 fairly decent description. [Music] All right. Before I ask you anything, I'm going to read you your rights, okay? All right. All right. You have the right to remain silent. Do you understand these rights? Yes. All right. With these in mind, will you speak to me? Yes. Okay. So, they have pictures here. Is this They positively identified you in these. So, what's what's going on? What's going on today? They have pictures of you taking stuff off the shelves and you're wearing the gray polo. So, let's talk let's talk to We just want you to be straight up and honest with us because it you know like Yeah, man, I I I did. I took some some bathing suits for my for my daughter, my little girl, cuz I couldn't really afford to get them. And and that's what I did. Deputies recover the stolen bathing suits hidden behind a nearby white unit. The man also admits to taking another small item from Target found in his back pocket. Uh like I said, it's it's definitely in there. Uh paid with my EBT card. Paid with an EBT card? >> Yeah. Okay. So, what you took in here is just the uh the bathing Don't Don't open it. I'm just asking you. So, you just you just took the bathing suits and put them in here. Okay. Do you mind if I look inside the bag? Yeah, can you just do me a favor and step away from the bag a little bit? Thank you. Yeah. [Music] The suspect confesses to a previous shoplifting conviction in New Smyrna Beach about a year prior for which he was on probation. Deputies then arrest him for shoplifting and issue a trespass warning from Target. When and where? Uh it was um New Smyrna. New Smyrna? Yeah, and it was uh almost a year ago. About a year ago? Did you get a court for it? Yes. And how did that turn out? Um I was on probation. On probation? Okay. So, there was some form of punishment associated. All right. All right. Just wanted to verify. All right, sir. So, when you do me a favor, turn around. Is there anything on your back? Like this way? Thank you. You're just being secured for right now, okay? [Music] It's not too tight, right? No, it's fine. All right. Okay. You can turn back around for right now. Why you got to secure me? You know, a minute to go 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 it Yeah, I mean, I could have done it a minute ago. We could have done it when we showed up, but Just wanted to Yeah. Yes, sir. Well, they're electing to pursue charges. So, they are not pressing the shoplifting, so So, yeah, it's a misdemeanor exception. You were caught with the stolen items. And you're placed under arrest for shoplifting. >> While searching him, deputies find a capsule containing drugs. The suspect admits it's fentanyl and explains he uses foil and a pen to smoke it. He even offers to tell officers where he buys the drugs naming a dealer called Carlos. Just put that Okay. Yeah, I got you. I'll make sure that item is still in my wallet. We'll ask him about that in a minute. What's the stuff in your back pocket, man? Um food. What's this stuff here? The stuff that he's pulling out of your back pocket. Yeah, it's all food. Right crap. That's not That's not food. You and I both know that's not food. Be honest with me. What what you got here? So, if I go and test it, what's it going to come out to be? All right. Have you have a seat over here? Can you do me a favor and move over here real quick? All right. Stay right there real quick. All right. I'm going to go check You got to do me a favor, just take a step to the side. All right. Oh, [ __ ] I know it's pretty cramped in there. Crap. Crap. All right. Watch your head. I got the answer for you. Tin foil and straw pipe. there. We're testing it. Yeah. Listen, man. I mean, you and you be honest with me. So, what's inside the capsule? With your key. What is that white on? We're going to We're going to test that means. I just I just need you just to be honest with me. So, we can at least be safe. Yeah. And so, It's fentanyl? Okay. Okay, thank you. And it's And uh what is what's what's in the uh tin foil? That's what you use to smoke weed? Okay. All right. Well, I appreciate you being honest with me, man. And you use the little pen there to smoke it, too? Yeah. Okay. All right, thank you. Can I tell you guys where I got 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 Flagler? Yep. You are? Yep. Who are you getting it from? Carlos. Carlos? Yep. You going to be able to tell me where Carlos is located? 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 Yeah, I asked you, you said it's in you. Well, we just got it. Okay. Yes, it is. This is the special substance. Well, they're just going to have to check you out. It's not going to take long. Yeah, and then we'll be on our way to the jail. En route to jail, he admits having ingested narcotics. He is taken to a hospital, cleared medically, then booked at the Sheriff Perry Hall Detention Facility. Charges include felony petit theft due to prior convictions, possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and violation of probation. With a $16,000 bond set, changing clothes can't change the truth. Every lie eventually unravels. Crime for compassion or desperation still leads to consequences. What an unyielding shoplifter. The next one will react much more violently, so keep an eye out. What is [ __ ] Well, let me tell you this. You know what I was doing before I got here? Chilling. And you decided to On March 13th, 2025, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at a shopping mall. A woman is detained after trying to hide stolen items in a bathroom. [Music] Get out of here. She can She tried to hide it all in the bathroom. I don't know. Turn around, put your hands behind your back. No, it is Listen, that wasn't mine. Yeah, and you stole it from Belk. No, but see, I didn't do this. No, but no I don't know. Yeah, okay. He watched you the whole time. I didn't mean to steal it. Wait. I didn't mean to harm somebody. The suspect, identified as Lashonda, is read her Miranda rights. She denies having any ID and insists that some of the clothes belong to someone else. The boots and stuff were yours? Uh let's see. That's a shirt. Well, I know you said the kid clothes, so No, that's hers. That's hers. She had this. That's what she took to carry everything in. You don't got any ID on you, do you? No, sir. What's your name? My name is Lashonda. Lashonda what? Did you see anybody else with her? Yeah. Take her to loss prevention. Y'all know where the office is, right? Officers discuss with loss prevention that the final decision to press charges will depend on the store. They note that the woman attempted to leave with a large amount of merchandise. Well, it's going to be up to Belk whether or not they want to press charges or not. That's uh That's a hefty amount of stuff right there. [Music] [Music] Where are you from? I'm from Florida. From where? Florida. I'm not supposed to be down here anyway. I had no way no way back. And I was just trying to get myself out of Flagler. Lashonda claims she was just trying to get back home from college and needed clothes to exchange for a ride to Tallahassee. Officers question her logic and point out the theft. Okay. But still No. It's clothes? Well, I didn't it wasn't We're trying to get No, no, no, let me let me ask you this. Did you pay for that bag of clothes that he's carrying? No, sir. You didn't? Are we in Belk currently? Are we in Belk? The store? Yes, sir. No, are we Are we currently in the store? What do you mean? Are we presently walking in Belk? Yes or no? Yes or no? Come on, it was one of your men. No, are we currently walking in that store that those clothes belong to? I don't know where it is. The clothes came from I'm asking, currently are we right now where we walking? Okay, are we in the Belk store, though? No, not yet. Okay, so you left the store with all those clothes, correct? Okay. [Music] I I I I I hear you with what you're saying, but it's not making a lot of sense as to why you'd steal those clothes. She admits someone offered her a ride in exchange for the clothes. Officers compare this reasoning to doing something immoral for convenience, trying to help her see the wrong in her actions. Let me ask you this. If someone said you had to shoot this person in the face to get a ride, would you shoot them in the face? And so, it doesn't make it right, does it? Exactly. You on probation? I was trying to get my stuff Do you have a license? You don't have a license? Do you have an ID? Where were you taking stuff to? Taking stuff to where? That way we don't got to go through these. I don't have anything on me. No, no, I'm not I'm not talking about on you, like in in this stuff. Where would Where would your ID and your license be at? I don't have it. I was just trying to get my stuff. I was trying to get in from here. I was going to go to Tallahassee. I'm originally from Georgia. I was going to go to the The suspect continues to insist she didn't intend to steal, saying she's been homeless for days and just wanted to get off the streets. Officers find more stolen items and a second suspect's belongings mixed in her bag. Oh [ __ ] I got you. I got you. Oh [ __ ] I'm sorry. I'm a scam. You can? Sorry. Wait, yeah, I've been out here so like I'm walking the streets and stuff like that. I've been I hear you, but we still can't We steal from the stores. >> I mean I mean I understand that, sir. I understand that, sir. I do get that. Watch your step. Watch your step. Watch your step. I do understand. Watch out, back into me. That was not my intentions. Do you have a Do you have a phone on you? No. Yeah, yeah, I do. [Music] You didn't call somebody? You want to want to take care? You sit down, please. Yes, sir. Yeah. No, you know what I'm saying? Sorry. I I was just trying to get my stuff from being down here. That's all. No, I apologize. To the best of my knowledge, her Yeah. And I've been out here for like 2 3 days just walking walking around. This ain't yours? This is not yours? Where did you find it? That's for her. That's not yours? So, who's this? I think it's hers. That's not yours? It's in this bag where you put this other stuff? You see, I told you somebody else was in this stuff with me. You got like the same makeup on, no? No. There was two of you? Oh, and this is her stuff? Lashonda explains she was trying to return home. Feeling caught up in a bad situation, officers tell her that while she may not have meant harm, stealing won't fix her problems, and she has made a serious mistake. [Music] What is [ __ ] Well, let me tell you this. You know what I was doing before I got here? Chilling. And you decided to And you showed up I get home. up with some other stuff. That's what I said is [ __ ] I get that. But it's not like y'all are going to No, no. I know you didn't, but think about how we Calm down. Think about how we got in this predicament. It I didn't do anything. We're saying you didn't. We're not saying that. We're not saying that at all, sir. I'm looking at that thing, man. We're not saying that at all. We're not saying that. We're not saying that at all, sir. Yeah, I get it. But if you're trying to get home That's right. I don't think doing this would would help your situation at all. You You just made a mistake. I'm not here to judge you, but you definitely made a mistake. Hm? Well, I'm not saying it's a misdemeanor or something. We don't know if it's a misdemeanor and Well, I'm not saying that. It doesn't matter. Oh, that's just how they do it here, you know. We can't do citations. It's over five? Yeah, I figured. It's not. You got to stand up. We're going to be on our way. All right, stand up. Stand up. We're going to be on our way, all right? Open the door. Just let this be your trespass from all Belk property for 5 years. All right. Stand up. So, don't come back here or we got to lock you up. Listen to this song. Officers conclude the case. Lashandra is charged with felony retail theft and trespassing from all Belk stores for 5 years. Even desperate circumstances don't justify breaking the law. Honesty is always the better path. True change begins when we face our mistakes and choose integrity over impulse. If you like this video, please sign up for Law Zone to receive more. Look out for the next shoplifter who will react even more aggressively. Do you want to talk to us? So, in reference to your Miranda rights Yeah, you said that I can stop at any time. At any point, yep. Okay. Yeah, I do want to talk to you. So, I don't want to hide anything. Police respond to a Winn-Dixie grocery store in Florida after reports that an employee has stolen thousands of dollars. The suspect expresses regret, repeatedly saying he just wants to give it back. Hey there. How are you doing? Good, how are you? We're going to just inspect it. All right, sounds good. I thought that two-piece was fast. That's my last order. We're going to play catch-up then. I know. I like that. Good, sir. How are you? Pretty good. So, we have an associate um a coworker who's actually collecting these receipts now. Okay. So, we've got on the uh over $700 in $60 in like void refunds, uh canceled transactions. So, like customer will buy these items and then he'll cancel the transaction and steal the money out the register. Um we made it to over $1,500 in product theft in the past year, $30 a week. Uh so, we for our investigation, we're focusing on the the cash money and everything, so Total with everything, uh it's going to be around $2,500 is what what he's admitted to. Okay, so he's admitted to the all of it, everything? >> Yeah. Yeah, so right now, he's literally writing his statement. Okay, well I'm going to leave him in there and let him do that thing real quick. Um Okay. I'll text you when he's done. That away That work? Um yeah, so I'm sorry. Exactly how how did y'all figure this out? Yeah, so uh we have a computer program >> Store investigators reveal that the employee voided transactions and processed fake refunds to steal cash from the register accumulating around $2,500 in total losses over the course of a year. >> I called Apple so we can do like different searches, void refunds, no sales. Okay. Um so, just running like different different searches or algorithms, we noticed these different outliers and Okay. just keep diving into that to see you know voids, refunds So, it's whenever customers would come to return things? Yeah, that or he would like bring customers up Investigators explain how they used a data analysis program to track suspicious refund and void patterns leading to the discovery of the theft scheme. >> I'm going to grab some information from you. Okay. How do you spell your first name? S T E V E N. So, I do have to read Miranda to you. Okay. Okay. So, you have the right Excuse me. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you can be Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions and to have them with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions without a lawyer lawyer present you will still have the right to stop answering at any time. You have You also have the right to stop answering at any time until you have until you talk to >> Deputies arrive, identify the suspect as Steven, and read him his Miranda rights, explaining his right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning. >> It is about $2,500 in cash and merchandise. Okay. Okay. So, it's >> Yeah. So, do you want to kind of explain to me what's been going on or the last >> Yeah, you want to talk to us? >> I [ __ ] up. Do you want to talk to us? So, in reference to your Miranda rights Yeah, you said that I can stop at any time. >> At any point, yep. Okay. Yeah, I do want to talk to you. So, I don't want to hide anything. Okay. All right. I just I just want to be straightforward. Okay. I just want to be That's fair. I just want to correct my mistake. Okay. Yeah, so >> to do. Okay. So, explain to me it's been about a year that this has been going on? I Yeah. I got My home life is pretty tough. And halfway through I don't know the exact time, but I stopped getting paid as much as I did and then Things are really tough right now for a lot of people, so I I I get it, but you know Steven chooses to cooperate and admits to stealing. He says he began taking small amounts of food and cash about a year ago due to financial hardship and reduced pay. So, the cash was being taken was starting in January. Okay. So, how much cash did you steal? Uh they said not they um I didn't know if it was like $700 more. No. I don't know the exact amount that you said. I'm sorry. How much do you think it was? I think it was had to be at least $800, I think is what they said, so What How were you taking it? Like just a couple bills here and there? Were you taking like hundreds? It was like I would voided the transactions on the thing. Whatever cash the person had, I I took that. Okay. And yeah. And um and then sorry, refunds. Too. Yeah. I just want to give it back. Okay. Is that even possible to just give it back? He estimates taking about $800-$900 in cash, explaining that he voided transactions and kept the money customers used to pay in addition to food items he took home. >> We're not here trying to just peg you and and and paint this up. I would much rather get your side of the story so that when we write this up, we say this is what he told us. It may be that way. If not, we have to just assume based on the evidence and based on these things. You know what I mean? or anything like that or do I know What's that? Can I know what they're like the charges and stuff like that or So, it's going to be grand theft cuz it's over $750, so Yeah. Is there What do I do? What do I Can I How do I like make that better though? So, we can we can talk we can talk to you about that here in just a little bit about it, but >> Okay, cuz I definitely want to make it better. Yeah. want to to this I want to fix it. >> And I'm sure the store appreciates that and we can appreciate that, too. But again, we have to do what what uh what our policy and stuff says. >> what that means cuz I I don't know So, ultimately what will happen today is is if they want to pursue charges, we'll have to review all the evidence and everything and if there's enough sufficient evidence to prove it, then you will wind up being arrested today for grand theft. That's not the end of the world, okay? It's just a It's just a property crime, okay? It's not the end of the world. It's not like you beat somebody up like you murdered somebody. More than likely what will happen is is you'll go to you'll go see a judge, okay? And they'll they'll issue you a bond and then you can get make the bond and then be released and then you'll go to court and they'll resolve all this stuff from that point. It's not the end of the world, okay? Officers explain the likely grand theft charge since the total exceeds $750 and reassure him that it's not the end of the world. He will likely get a bond and a court date. >> here. Okay, it's not the end of the world. Do y'all have um Do y'all have a video or anything like that, too? Perfect, even better. I mean, if I >> Basically Sure. Oh, I'm sorry. Yep. No, go ahead. No, I'm listening. No, I just if I just, you know, am honest, I feel like that's better. Oh, yeah. I mean It it it it it that's not for us. That's not for them. I You know, all right. I'm going to be honest cuz it you know, I did I've done this for a long time. I I do this a whole bunch. This is for you. You're not going to get past it until you're honest with yourself. That's That's the reality of it. Whether what It's not for them, not for me. Um you need to fill this part out here. And you already said as much as that in our conversation. You know, you said you felt a lot better after you started talking about it. >> Yeah. You're And you're going to I got a feeling you've been looking over your shoulder this entire time the past year. I I I'm sure and I'm sure when when the video is watched, we can see that you're And And like I said, 98% of people I deal with are good people and they just make a mistake, all right? The other the the next 1% just they're to put all my listening to just be blatant with it I guess they're just jackasses and doing stuff because they don't they don't know any better and they just whatever and then that last 1% are just evil people and they just want to screw the world over and burn it down all that stuff. I don't believe you're that way. I do believe you're in the 98% I deal with that they happen. You the economy is tough your heart what all that stuff you just made a mistake. Hopefully you learn from the mistake you won't make them again you'll roll on this will roll through you'll be all right. All right. When you said I'm looking over my shoulder God it's the most frustrating Deputies commend his honesty and calm attitude emphasizing that everyone makes mistakes. They note he belongs to the 98% who are good people who make bad decisions under pressure. So I'm I'm hoping that's going to you know be an eye opener for you and you know And that do we uh Sabrina do we offer EAP for afterwards so I'll write that information down for you. Yeah so it's employee assistance. You get it in 30 days. So Thank you. 30 days after today Mhm. um there's going to be services that that you you're going to be available to. I don't Sabrina would know cuz she's So that they essentially they will offer you um if you want to have somebody to talk to. Mhm. It's basically free therapy and it's like that for six sessions with a licensed therapist it is not through EAP it is something that EAP pays for but it doesn't they don't call us up and go hey Yeah. Steven called in it's completely separate from us. Yes. Okay. But it's a great resource I personally used it and when I was a store manager I recommended it to my employees all the time. Okay. All right it's a really really great great resource. Yeah I definitely do that cuz I don't have anyone to talk to. I'll definitely take full advantage of that. Okay. All right. Yeah. So I'm hoping Store management offers Steven access to an employee assistance program EAP free counseling sessions to help him process the situation emotionally and mentally. >> fraud charges Okay. So but we're going to have to I'm going to contact give it to the state attorney to make sure we're getting those but due to the amount of time that's gone by Mhm. We have we have different charges that we're going to wind up going with. >> Okay. But it's it's so we're going to What was the amount for the for the shoplifting for the actual merchandise? It was around that $2,000. Okay. Uh so it's $30 a week 15 1506. You will have the felony grand theft charges. >> Okay. Okay so we're going to we're going to send that up to the state attorney's office. Okay. But the cash money we're going to have to look at because we're looking at at scheme to defraud charges. Okay. Meaning so but that's meaning you were trying to defraud people of their funds in the store of their funds and stuff like that so not people but the store of their funds. Okay. So that we're going to go that route because that's going to wind up being bigger more charges okay? It's still not the end of the world but due to the circumstances of it >> we're going to go that route with it. Does that make sense for y'all? We're still sending up charges. You're not going to jail today but you will be there will be charges and stuff going forward. So with that being said what will happen is we're going to forward this charges to the state attorney's office they're going to review the case and they will probably be in contact with you. Okay. So if you get an if you get a call from an unknown number like a 904 number or whatever and they leave you a voicemail it's the state attorney's office you better be reaching back out to them and stuff. Now that may allow you to talk whatever with attorney what not but if you don't speak to somebody they're more likely going to issue a warrant for your arrest. Okay okay so okay so when they call me I need to respond to them. Yes that's what I'm saying yes. No no communication is never a good thing because we will just automatically or the state will automatically assume that a full court we're just going to issue warrants on all this and then that's but we're going to due to the nature of the since it was delayed back on that we're not going to do the physical arrest on that today we're going to send up charges on all of it but we're looking at >> thing that happens when they call me and then I go to court then. Yes so since today we'll discuss all that after all that once they get all that started but that's what's going to wind up happening. I'm assuming you guys are wanting to trespass him from here. I already did that. Okay perfect I'm trying to get caught I'm playing three Yeah. ring around the rosy over here so I I apologize on that one so and you discuss that with him what's going on okay? >> Yeah she told me. um You have a way to get a ride then correct? Uh >> you can call somebody come get you once we walk out and we'll escort you out of the building and everything and then we'll just we'll have a conversation with them but I'll let you go into a little bit more detail with you guys on that but so you're not going to wind up going to jail jail today but you are going to have multiple charges filed up against you for all this okay? >> Okay. Again it's not the end of the world you didn't nothing you said made any of that different that's us >> You know I understand. making sure that we charge appropriately and and making sure we're covering everything. >> Okay. But if you get a call from the state attorney's office or whatever that process is make sure you call them back or whatever I most people don't answer unknown numbers but if they leave you a voicemail which they more than likely will make sure you speak with them okay? Because that's going to be the difference in whether how that plays out whether they just are issuing warrants and whatever else and so with So Okay. >> Ultimately officers decide not to arrest him immediately. Instead they will forward the case to the state attorney's office for review possibly adding fraud charges due to the deliberate nature of the scheme. Steven is trespassed from the store and told to cooperate with prosecutors when contacted to avoid an arrest warrant. Despite his remorse and cooperation he faces potential grand theft and fraud charges. Officers treated him compassionately emphasizing accountability honesty and the opportunity to rebuild his life. All right let's move to this next case where things might get even messier. Are we turning it I don't know though. That's why I'm trying to call your sister. I don't have her in here. Call your sister. On December 4th 2024 police responded to a shoplifting complaint at JCPenney. Multiple people are questioned and officers begin checking bags. >> Walk away. Stand over here. Everybody over there. 10-34 via JCPenney on suspicious shoplifters. 10-34 JCPenney in the area. No luggage is wanted at least. Who all stole from here? I got my bag. Everybody open your bags. Who had that bag? She just pulled it out of the snake bag so I got A woman is caught with a stolen purse valued at around $3,000. She offers to pay for it but officers explain it doesn't work that way. What's in that bag? It's a purse Okay you're good. You're good. And you're good. You can go back inside. How old are you? Let go of the bag. Hold her. Let go of this. I'm 25. Okay you can step inside. Let's go. Can I just pay for the bag? How much is the bag? It doesn't matter I paid All right $3,000. Okay let me pay for it please. Is there anything else in here that's not paid for? No. Paid for this? That's my sister's. Did you see her? I don't know if my sister did. I probably did. I thought you did. Yeah go ahead and leave. I wasn't sure where you were going. Sorry. Yeah. Okay. We're going to follow her. Give me that. Yeah. All right. Just tell me. Just I'm good. 421 you have 4 subjects All right. Here. 4 subjects traffic at University and Pioneer Park Way. I just saved a lot of trouble. Have you been arrested I need to rush too. Have you been arrested for shoplifting or anything before? Before. Huh? Before. And this is a brand new purse too we're just The suspect insists she bought the purse elsewhere. Ralston pleads with officers not to arrest her. She admits to having other criminal cases. I bought that purse months ago. Who owns this now? That's not how much it cost. I bought that from Ross. I would have paid for it. Like I'm begging you please. Angela are you from Danville? Yes. Do you live there now? Yes. I forgot what we're going to do. Hey can you just hang out by my car upper level JCP? Please. And I don't know what happened but when I first asked you for it back you didn't want to give it back to me. I did try to play me like I was stupid. I did give you your stuff back and I asked everybody else if they had something to give it back. All right you're not going to need warrants or anything right now. No. You sure? But I have I got Victoria's previous cases but it was way serious than this. Okay. Shockingly she reveals she has a pending murder charge. Officers note it doesn't mean she's guilty but express disbelief at her behavior. What's your other cases? I have um You can just look it up. I can't but I'm just asking you what's your other cases? I have um I have a murder charge. Oh. Okay. Doesn't mean you're going to go to jail for a murder charge. I don't give a [ __ ] about your previous history. Uh How much is the bag? 80. Okay. There's her information if you guys need that. And just so you know Uh, you're going to be trespassed from J.C. Penney. Good night. I don't know if I would come back. >> 14 10 7. I don't know if I can park in a lot, okay? Okay. You guys are going to jail for $8? Don't say that. I promise. >> If I go back to Victoria's Secret, they're going to say this was paid for? Like I said, you can look on her cameras that my sister handed me that and she told me to hold it. The woman claims her sister gave her the purse and asks officers to check store cameras, but the officers remain skeptical. >> Let's ask your sister. Do you have a phone? Do you have a phone with you? Call your sister and ask her if it's stolen cuz I'm going to go back and review the video and if it is, I'll just take it back and return it and we won't go any further with it. >> do that. But if I have to go back and review the video to find out it's stolen. Is this your correct address on here? That don't have nothing to do with me. So I'm asking I'm I'm being very cool. If it's stolen, just tell me. I'll return it. We won't I don't know though. That's why I'm telling you to call your sister. Call your sister. I'm giving you a chance. If it's stolen, I'll just return it. But if I have to go back and watch the video, unfortunately, you have it with you. Okay. I don't want to go petty. Just want to give you a chance. Can you just I don't give what you do with it. I'm not going to do that because if it's paid for, I can't do that. What she say? Yeah. She said yeah. 14 we're good here. He can hold up. 15 you can disregard. She's saying it's paid for? I don't think it's paid for. You don't think so? Not from the get-go with my life. Wouldn't have got a deal with you. Is it paid for or not? Just you tell me your answer and I'll take it back. >> Okay. I just figured I'd offer since you were asking. I'm going to go upstairs. You're not free to go yet. Yeah. Give us one more or two more. >> Police explain she has no warrants, but she will still receive a court notice for misdemeanor theft. She resists saying she lives 2 hours away and can't attend court. >> 10 more, 20 more. All right, so this is what we're going to do. You have no warrants, so I'm going to give you a notice to appear in court. And you can leave tonight. Really? >> You don't have to go. I can't just write it off like nothing happened. >> to go to court, man. Yeah, it's a misdemeanor. I can charge you. I'm going to go to court, dude. I live 2 hours away. Yeah, well, then you call in and say you can't make it to court. Do you pay the restitution over the phone or whatever you have to do. I'll try I can do. Why don't you just give me a ticket? I can't do that. Sign ticket. What is it? It's a court case. You want to talk about what we did today. I apologize. You came in Did you come in here with this empty bag? No, a box. Yeah, sorry. Yeah, actually She's not extradited. Awesome, thank you. Yeah. So you came in here with this bag. Yeah. What was that inside your purse? In there. What's your receipt in there? I bought it. Okay. >> Is that what old girl was carrying over there? She had two pairs of shoes. Officers question why she stole the purse despite claiming she had plenty of money. She admits it was out of boredom. Yeah. Great job. And you know that my bag didn't have a separate bag. So why did you steal the purse? Come on, why did I have to do that? I'm just going to ask you a question. Why did you take the purse? Who would have done it if she was bored? I have more than enough money for the purse. You want to see my bank account? I got Yeah, you can actually let me see that. I do. Can you write your name and NCIC real quick for retail theft under? If you got the money to pay for it, why you The woman gives vague details about the murder case describing it as a fight where someone died, but refuses to elaborate further. >> If you came up here in court, you need to contact I was bored just doing [ __ ] All right, now you got a case. Let me ask you this. For a girl that's been arrested for murder, like he told me. You think you want to be doing [ __ ] that's against the law, correct? Do I even want to know what the murder was? I'm kind of interested. What happened there? Officers tell her she's lucky they are being lenient since she could have gone to jail that night, which would worsen her situation. >> For record. Um, allegedly it was a big old fight. A girl end up passing away and they put the tape up. Where did that happen? Danville? Would you hit her or something? It was a huge brawl. And a whole bunch of people beat her ass or what? >> No. Everybody's beating everybody? She died or what? >> I can't talk about that. [ __ ] Is it still going? Can you quit asking me questions >> still going, isn't it? It's still going, isn't it? Hey, you're lucky I'm being nice and cutting you a break tonight cuz you could go to jail and that would definitely not help >> I'm not that like come on, man. I know you're not that like Hey, you know I'm not that. Hey, by the way, I got my last arrest was murder. What? Yeah. I'm not saying you're a bad person, but you're The woman is charged with petty theft and trespassing from J.C. Penney, but not taken to jail. Don't think you're untouchable, stealing always catches up with you. Bad choices even out of boredom can ruin your future. Look out for the next shoplifter who will react even more aggressively. Okay, I'm going to get in. Just walk with me. Let's go. Don't touch me like that, okay? On July 26th, 2023, police stopped a woman, Melinda, at self-checkout after being suspected of shoplifting. She insists she paid for everything and asks for a receipt check. The officer explains she isn't under arrest, but will receive a trespass warning because her companion has been caught stealing before. She's in the self-checkout. Uh-huh. Okay. Camouflage hat? Uh-huh. Okay. Hi. How's it going? I'm going fine. Okay. Uh, well, the store asked me to stop you because they saw that you weren't paying for some of the items. >> I did. I did and I promise you I did. She just came right there. I was right there paying. You can check the receipt. I paid for everything. Okay. Can I see it? Yes, ma'am. I mean, sir. All right. Hey, let's move over here. All right. And if all my stuff on my receipt, what's going to happen then if they thought I was stealing? Okay, please check it. >> Okay. And I have three left. >> Okay, I will. I'm not going to arrest you. They just want you no trespass, okay? >> Okay. That's it. So do you have your driver's license with you? >> I don't drive. >> Okay. Do you have an ID? No, I don't drive. I'm with somebody else. >> Okay. Yeah, I I already stopped your your other friend. Who? Uh, I don't remember her name. Oh. But you guys came here in a Mitsubishi. So I already talked to her. She's already been no trespass because she's already been seen stealing twice now. What? From here? >> Yes. She walked out with merchandise twice. So now I Oh. Well, she put down a basket or she left She She left the basket >> No, this was my basket. I left it right there to go get some lines. Well, she was pushing it around and then she left it there and then you picked it up, so which leads us to believe you guys are together. >> Melinda continues to argue that she paid demanding a store associate check her receipt. The officer tries to de-escalate and explain she will just be trespassed, not arrested. >> I just want to know what's up. This right here. This was my Okay. Oh my god. Like I said, you're not You're not going to be arrested. They just want you no trespass, okay? What's your name? My number is Wynn. Last name is Wynn, W Y N N. First name is Melinda. Can you check my stuff, please? >> Can I get a store associate? Can you just do a receipt check for me? Now is there anything that you that is not on the receipt because they're going to do a receipt check. >> on there. And as of right now, they just want you no trespass, okay? >> Everything. Okay. I'm just letting you know what's going to happen. Cuz I didn't put I didn't steal nothing. Everything I put everything right there. Okay. Well, back off her a little bit. Please wait. The receipt came out to 178. Thanks. Everything I just re-ran came to 133.22. And hers was 120.52. Okay. They're going to remove the items that weren't paid for. I Everything All right. So come with me for a second. >> Okay. You're going to sit in my car for a second while I go talk to your sister and get your driver's license or ID, whatever it is, okay? And then you're going to be no trespass and then you're going to be let go. I'll be over there. My sister Where my sister? She's parked over there. Come on. Like I said, No. The officer instructs her to sit in the patrol car temporarily while verifying her ID with her sister. Melinda refuses repeatedly questioning why she has to sit in the car and resists the officer's attempts to guide her. >> Back and get in the car, please. >> seconds, okay? That's all I need you to >> Why are you touching That's she go. Okay, well, have a seat. >> I don't You You keep making this difficult, man. >> I'm not You I got to sit in the car for Yes. I don't want to, please. Can you If you don't >> I just want to go back in cuz If you don't, then I am going to arrest you. Okay. So have a seat. For what though? Well, over here. Okay. Oh, stop. Come on, over here. Sir, can you please don't Shanay! Come on. Sir, why are you acting so rough with me, sir? >> You are not I asked. Have a seat. I don't Why I have to get in the car? Sir, why are you acting so No, please. Okay, I'm >> Tension escalates as she claims the officer is being too rough, begs to be released and continues denying theft. She refuses to comply leading the officer to warn her she will be arrested. >> I am. Can you stop, sir? I They report Okay, sir, I am. Don't get Please don't do that to me, sir. Okay, I'm I'm going to do it. Just don't act so rough with me, sir. Sit. Okay. They don't make Can y'all get my Okay, sir, I am. Please. I am. Sir, okay. You hit me in my mouth, sir. I'm not. Can y'all record? Okay, sir, I'mma get in. I promise you. Please. Okay. >> Okay, I promise. I'm sorry. Can you calm down? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Let's go. >> Okay. Let's go. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry, sir. Can you stop? Melinda. I said okay. >> going to keep doing this with you. >> Okay, I'mma get in. Just go with me. >> Let's go. Don't touch me like that. Okay. Sir, you keep on touching me like You're not doing as I asked you to. Okay, why do I have to You not say You said I'm going to be going to jail for what? And I >> giving me your correct name. You lied. You stole things. >> steal. Have a seat in the back of my car. >> the man Can you go get the workers, please? I didn't steal, sir. You didn't pay for things. >> Why you didn't Why you didn't say kind of jail then? The other girl, she stole all that and I didn't. I didn't steal. Don't touch me. I'mma get in the car. Just please take Melinda calls out for her sister to bring her ID, claims asthma issues, and pleads not to sit in the car. She says the handcuffs hurt and that the officer cut her wrist while the officer accuses her of trying to pull them off. Hurry up, Sherelle. Okay, I'm 449. Where's the other girl? >> That's she got my sister. Get her my ID. Sherelle, get her my ID. Hurry up. Sherelle, get her my ID. >> Have a seat in the car. I am trying not to be rough with you. Have a seat in the car. Sit down. >> Sherelle, can you get her my ID? Sit down in the car. Look, she got it. I I need some air. I'll be having asthma attacks. I can't sit in a I'm not going to do nothing wrong. >> in the car. She wrote down my sister. Sherelle, get her my ID. Sit in the car. >> You can put me in cuffs and I can sit out here, please. I just want I'll be having asthma attacks in a hot car. Just please I'm complying with you. I just >> The officer explains items weren't on her receipt, but she still denies stealing. Backup officers arrive as she continues resisting compliance. No, I I didn't touch you, sir. They got it on camera. >> I got it on camera. Have a seat inside the car. Sherelle, can you get her my ID, please? >> because you stole. >> I didn't steal. >> You did. >> That [ __ ] on the receipt. Sherelle, that [ __ ] on the receipt. It's not on the receipt. Have a seat inside the car. Sherelle, please, sir. Get her my ID. >> trying not to be rough with you. I I know you're not. I'm not finna run, sir. I'm not running. Sit down. That's it. How come other police officers I don't Melinda escalates further by attempting to flee. Officers restrain her stating she gave a false name, resisted, and stole about $20 worth of items. She continues protesting innocence. [Music] Now you're in trouble. Roll out. He's good. He didn't do anything. You looking for someone else? No. Okay. She gave me a [ __ ] name. Stole. I didn't steal. Get the [ __ ] off me. I'm locking your cuffs. Shut up. All right, let's get her out. Don't touch me. Come on. After being restrained in the patrol car, she pleads not to go to jail, apologizes, and admits she gave a fake name. >> I'll find you out. Yeah. I was trying not to use the force on her. Lean back. I got to buckle you in. Sir, please. I got to buckle you in. Lean back. How much, sir? Please, I don't want to go to jail, sir. Please, I'm sorry. Sorry, I thought you were going to let me go. Yeah, if you gave me a real name. I What began as a simple trespass warning turned into an arrest for shoplifting, resisting, providing false information, and attempting to flee all over about $20 in unpaid items. A simple trespass warning could have ended peacefully, but resisting and lying only turned it into an arrest. Cooperating calmly is always better than escalating a minor situation into a major one. But this is still not the worst case. Just wait until you see this next one. Okay, I can stand by the car. I don't have to sit in no car. Sit in the car. I don't have to do I don't have >> Get in the car. On March 28th, 2021, police were called to a CVS after an employee requested help with an intoxicated woman causing a disturbance. While she wasn't originally accused of shoplifting, the employee wanted her removed from the premises before things escalated any further. What's going on? Nothing. I just came here to buy my stuff and I asked her where the stuff was and she told me she didn't know. So I was going to get back in the car. Okay. I don't know, babe. If you um what happened? Are you guys okay to drive? Oh, I'm I was drunk. I'm drunk. But I'm I'm drunk enough to drive though. No. Well, I got my cousin coming to pick me up though. I can wait for my cousin to come pick me up. Yeah, that's fine, but you can't drive, okay? >> cousin to come pick me up. Being baby, you can go out with police. That's what I be trying to tell people. Call the police. Sir, have you been drinking too? No. Can you drive? Yeah. You have a driver's license? [Music] What started as a simple disturbance call quickly escalated into a suspected shoplifting case. If she had nothing to hide, she could have just walked away, but the moment she tried to bolt, it became clear she wasn't as innocent as she claimed. Safe to say she had something to hide after all. >> Okay, but this is my bag, sir. This is my bag. Listen, this is my bag. I gave her this. Excuse me, sir. I gave her this. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Sir, this is the only thing I gave her. That my bag is not is not hers. Okay, I'm just going to figure that out. Okay, but why are you I'm going to secure you until that happens. Well, why are you trying to handcuff me? You are not under arrest. Okay, but why are you handcuffing me for? I I don't steal. I'm not stealing. Put your hands behind your back. Well, what are you handcuffing me for? I don't I don't I'm not stealing. I gave her her nails back. Stop fighting. I'm giving her her nails back. Hey, baby, stop being so hostile with me. >> Okay, well stop fighting and put your hands behind your back. >> I I'm giving her her her nails back. Okay. Sir, can you step over there? I appreciate it. I'm just securing you >> Okay, I'm Okay, I'm just giving her her nails back. They're her nails. I had them up under my arms. You seen I didn't want them. Drop this stuff, okay? Okay, get it. The woman insisted she'd done nothing wrong, but if that were true, cooperation would've been the smarter move. By this point, even if she hadn't shoplifted, her aggressive behavior and resistance were enough to land her in serious trouble. Still, calming down was clearly the last thing on her mind. Okay, I'm going to help you. Do you have the I I see it. Okay, I'm going to help you down. >> I can see it. But I'm telling you, sir, when I walked out, the nails right there is the one that be up under my arms. That nail. I don't have [ __ ] up Okay, okay, come here. Have a seat. I'm finna sit. I'm going to sit you in the car. >> No, I'mma sit right here. I'll sit right here. I'll sit. I'll sit. I'll sit. I'm finna sit. What? Don't grab me. I'm finna sit. Don't grab me. I'm finna to sit. No, you're sitting in the car. Why do I have to sit in the car? I don't have to sit in no car. Okay, I can stand by the car. I don't have to sit in no car. Sit in the car. I don't have to do I don't have >> car. Sir, you just going to bust my lip. Sir, you going to bust my lip. Sir, you busting my lip though. You busting my lip. You busting my lip. >> Sit in the car. And you bust my lip, I ain't doing [ __ ] to you. Fed up with her attitude and refusal to cooperate, the officer gave her a light push into the squad car. Though the woman later claimed he busted her lip, body cam footage clearly showed the push was minimal, just enough to get her into the cruiser after repeated resistance. Thank you for being calm. Yes, sir. What's going on? Yes, sir. Came in the store. She busted her lip. She had nails in her She must've got pissed off cuz she Okay. So, I'm saying she had them. Okay. Do you have any other merchandise? >> No, I don't. Okay. I got one female in the car screaming. Okay. It's a mess. All right, is this your car? Yes, sir. That's her car? Do you have a valid license? Yes, I do. Are you able to drive? >> Yes, I am. Have you been drinking, too? I haven't, too. >> Okay. I'm going to have you hang out here until I figure out what else is going on, okay? All right. So, I make contact with them both. She's drunk, and as they're walking out, it beeps, and the manager says, "I want them trespassed cuz she just stole." So I'm like, "Okay." She's like, "Oh, I just stole this." It's like a little thing of nails. I'm like, "All right." So I'm going to put her in handcuffs to see if she's also got a bag over there. See if she's got anything else. She starts freaking out. So then I asked her to step it up. So I'm going to figure out I just need to figure out if they're going to prosecute, what else they have. I don't really have much right now. I can push resisting if I want. You got to do That's kind of what I got now. >> Actually, the officer misunderstood her story. The woman never admitted to stealing the nails. She claimed the officer escorted her out before she had a chance to pay, which triggered the anti-theft alarm. So if the officers don't find any unpaid items in her bag, there's still a chance she could beat the shoplifting charge. Do you guys want to press charges? Yeah, go ahead. Yeah, you want to press charges for the theft? >> Yes. Yeah. Okay. Um If you have a light on Can you come out and see and tell me what is yours? Hey, sir. Where's her bag? Cuz you took it. Yeah. she told me. Yeah, yeah, where is it? Okay, I need that now. Ma'am, can we go through this real quick and see what's yours and what's Just tell me what's yours. All of this is yours? I'm not I don't want to tell you. This is yours? Yeah. Yeah. This is yours? >> Yes. All the other stuff out. Yeah, all that is a six pack. Okay. This is yours? It's half done. Is that This is probably hers. It might be. Oh, no, never mind. I It felt light, so yeah, I guess it is. Check this. Yeah. Could you go through the rest of that? Looks like she won't be dodging that shoplifting charge after all. As for her partner, he got off easy. Officers showed some leniency, but had they chosen to press the issue, he could have easily been charged as an accomplice. Please, I promise I didn't resist. Well, I mean, I was there, so You did. I didn't resist you, sir. I was just telling you I I was telling you And hey, hey, this is This is all you're doing cuz if you didn't resist me, you wouldn't be going to jail cuz they don't even want to prosecute for the things you stole. Please, I'll take it out. I promise I didn't resist. And what are you saying? You didn't do anything wrong cuz you had a whole bag of stuff you just stole from that place. He was in the way. He was helping but I didn't know. It was all Oh, yeah, right. It It was your female bag on your shoulder and you didn't know. Come on. Okay, get out, please. Next time when they're trying to talk to you, don't fight cops. Okay. You go to jail. The officer was right. The officer was right. Resisting only earns you a first class ticket to jail. By now, the woman had ditched her aggressive tone for incoherent blubbering, but it was far too late to talk her way out of the situation. The officer proceeded to search her before transporting her to jail. I gave please go call my friend and he'll bond me out like Yeah, I'll tell him that to bond you out. Oh, I wouldn't tell him not to cuz I don't know if he'll listen to you guys. Step in the vehicle, please. Quite frankly, I don't care. Well, what I don't. Sit down. Sit. Sit down. Okay. Her bonding out is not our responsibility. Nope. Thank you so much. You know what? You know we're hiring. If you don't want to have to keep going back and forth. She was later officially charged with resisting arrest. In court, she plead no contest and was sentenced to 60 days in jail. Resisting arrest only makes a bad situation worse. Stay calm, cooperate, and handle disputes in court, not on the street.