Can we go down to the sheriff's office? We got a report of a gentleman matching your description in reference to a possible theft over here at Target. >> Not me. >> Not you. >> Do you have your driver's license on you or do you have it in the truck? >> Yes, I do. >> Real quick, before you reach anything, have any weapons on your person? >> Just my knife. >> All right, don't don't 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. Let me see you grab that. >> All right, okay. >> On June 25th, 2025, Flagler County deputies stopped a shoplifting suspect in Palm Coast, Florida and left with a fentanyl arrest. Fresh description from Target, a matching subject within 100 yd of the scene. That clears the reasonable articulable suspicion bar Terry v. Ohio set in 1968. The deputy kept the encounter non-custodial, no handcuffs, conversational tone while the investigation ran. That one decision produced a full voluntary confession. 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. What's with the badge? >> They let me keep it back. >> Let me see it. You still work for them? >> Yes, sir. >> Why do you still have the badge? >> I was allowed to to keep it. >> Yeah, not in proper display if you're not E back anymore, right? >> I wasn't displaying it. I was just getting my ID out. So, I'm sorry. >> I saw it. >> Oh, I apologize. >> He just had black and white shoes, jeans, and fresh clothes on. We're just stealing them by the way. >> Yeah, he's Were you at Target today? >> Uh like hour ago. >> Hour ago? >> Yeah. >> 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 literal area that we got reported on. So, we're going to do our job and stop you. Well, it was reported that he went this way. >> Yeah. >> Literally right where you're at. So, at this one time, we're going to stop you. That's That's our job. That's what we're supposed to do. Someone ran off in that direction? >> Yeah, they were about my height. They had jeans on. That's all I know. >> And they're running that towards the towards the wood line? >> They went towards the the water over there. And then I could see him cut the corner. That's it. >> What kind of shirt was he wearing? >> Uh he had like uh um a gray with a black bottom. Uh he had a collar shirt. >> Okay. You want to go just follow up? >> Yep. >> It was a collared shirt? >> Yes, sir. >> Was he wearing any hat? >> Uh gray hat. Yeah, towards the water. Uh he cut the corner right there and went that way. >> 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. Sorry about this, but you you fit you know, we're we're talking. >> Right. No, I get it. >> We only get a description to work off of, you know. So, I don't want you to feel like anything's kind of targeted. >> I just don't want to miss my >> Yeah. >> my lift here is like literally here. >> Where are you coming from, boss? >> Uh I'm coming from uh um New Smyrna. >> 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 back in down there. I just walked down this way. I so I just took the back side, that's all. >> Where you coming from before that? >> Uh before that, uh I was coming from Home Depot. >> Oh, from Home Depot? >> Yeah. >> How'd you get from Home Depot to here? >> I took a lift. >> Took a lift? Okay. Where do you stay at, my friend? >> Uh New Smyrna. >> Stay at New Smyrna? >> Yes, sir. >> Why do you shop down here? >> Uh I got a girlfriend down here. >> Got a girlfriend down here? >> Yeah, he's leaving in 2 days on a bus. >> I understand. Well, once we verify, you know, they got video camera and all that other footage to verify it's not you, we'll cut you loose, be done with it, and make sure you Hey, man, you been out here long? >> Sorry? >> You've been out here long? >> Uh I ain't sure I don't know what time it is. Um 10:00 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 him >> 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? >> Mhm. I I didn't see him. >> No problem, thank you. So, how did he end up here? >> Lift. >> Lift? >> Lift at New Smyrna. >> So lift at 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. >> What's her name? >> Name's Jessica. >> Jessica what? >> Wheeler. >> And where are you going? >> I'm going home right now. >> Oh, where is she at? >> She left. She's gone. That's why I was walking to get a lift. That's >> Yeah, you can't you can't take them right now. >> Okay, I'll go. >> So uh Why were you back here though? >> I was meeting my girl. >> Oh, okay. >> So yeah, that's all. I was walking back, you know. >> Were you in Target at all? >> Uh earlier like an hour ago. >> Okay. Did you buy anything? >> Yes, I did. >> What did you buy? >> Uh I bought fabric here and some milk. >> Okay. >> And stuff like that. >> Did you go back in at all after that? >> Nope. >> You never went in there and stole anything and ran? So they They have good video. >> Okay. >> It's not going to show you on video? >> Wasn't me. You have her number? >> One more time. Tell me the description of the person that you saw run over there. >> probably about my height. >> What was he wearing exactly? >> uh like this gray with black bottom. >> What kind of shirt was it? >> It was a collared shirt. >> 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 I mean he had like white shoes. >> He had white shoes? >> Hello. >> Okay. Hang tight. >> I have a I have Disco on the phone. She can vouch for my whereabouts. >> Pardon me? >> Disco on the phone. She can vouch for 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 fairly decent description. 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. All right. So, they have pictures here. Is this And they positively identified you in these. So, what's what's going on? What's going on today? They watched you taking stuff off the shelves. And you're wearing the gray polo. So, Let's talk. Let's talk. We just want you to be straight up and honest with us because it you know, like >> I I I did. I took some some bathing suits for my for my daughter, my little girl, because I couldn't really afford them. And and that's what I did. I have them in my bag. >> The bathing suits? >> Yes, these bathing suits. You still have them in the bag? Yes, I do. >> With the shirt that you were wearing, the polo, >> Yeah. >> where did Where is that at? >> Uh dumped it there. >> You dumped it over there behind the Where over there? Like just tell me where it's at. >> Behind that white thing over there. >> Behind the big white unit? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Besides like the bathing suits, is there anything else like you like the tea in the milk? >> No, I paid for all that. >> You never seen >> Uh yes, actually. If not, then it should be at the register that I was at that that I am >> All right. Anything you want to do? Don't just set the bag down. >> Yeah. All right. Well, she should be in there. If not, like I said, it's it's definitely in there. Uh I paid with to put card. >> Paid with an then would it be cheaper? >> Yeah. Okay. So, what you took in here is just the uh the bag down there. Don't open it. I'm just asking you. So, you just you just took the bathing suits and >> Yeah. Yeah, that's >> Okay. Do you mind if I Yeah, could 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. What are those things? >> Lighters. >> Lighters? Yeah. Bathing suits. Let me just pull that out. Any bodies? >> No. Is this the food and everything from the baby cheaper? >> You got the scissors? What are you going to do with the baby food now? >> Yeah. >> What else? >> That's it. >> Yeah, that'll be pretty smart. Yeah. >> Okay. >> You said you paid for the lighters? >> Yeah, well, I had them I I bought them at my house. >> You had those already? Okay. Has anyone spoken to Target at all? He's speaking. >> Thank you for the call. Do you want What's up? >> What's this too? I'm sorry. >> What's in your back pocket you're reaching for? >> This is the cord. >> What do you want to do with that? >> That was something I took to keep the cord. >> You took that from Target? >> Yes. >> Yeah, grab that, Deputy Joseph. Deputy Joseph, if you want to gather those items, the slim wear and the cord, and then have that >> Yeah. >> You want to You can lean back against this. However you want to do it. And 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 Smyrna. >> New Smyrna? >> Yep. And it was Well, almost a year ago. >> About a year ago? Did you go to 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 there, so you All right. Just wanted to verify. All right, sir. So, can you do me a favor? Turn around. Is there anything in your back? Take this, please. Thank you. >> You're just being secured for right now, okay? >> It's not too tight, right? >> No, it's not. >> All right. Okay, you can turn back around for right now. >> What's the difference between You know, a minute ago and now why you have to secure me now and then? >> Pardon me? >> Why you have to secure 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 We could have done it when we showed up, but >> Just wondering. >> Yeah, yes, sir. >> Well, they're electing to pursue charges. So, they are reporting you as a shoplifter, so So, yeah, it's a misdemeanor exception. You were caught with the stolen items. And you're placed under arrest for shoplifting, okay? You're also going to be trespassed from the property, okay? You're not getting charged with trespassing. It's just a warning saying you're no longer allowed to be at this Target. So >> 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, can you do me a favor, spread your feet apart? You got anything in your pockets? >> I don't have anything that's going to bite you or >> I'm not saying that's going to happen. >> You're not still on probation, are you? >> Uh yes, actually. I just >> Just getting Just getting off. >> Okay, so you're still actively on probation? >> Yeah. Yeah, I just got off probation a couple months >> I'm sorry? >> My ID, make sure it stays in my wallet. >> Put it back. Just put that Okay. >> Yeah, I got you. I'll make sure that my ID stays in my wallet. >> We'll ask you about that in a minute. What's the stuff in your back pocket, man? >> Uh food. Is this food? >> The stuff that he's pulling out of your back pocket. >> Yeah, it's all food. It's bread crumbs. >> That's not That's not food. You and I both know that's not food. >> Be honest with me, what what do you got here? >> So, if I go and test it, what's it going to come out to be? All right. Have you ever a seat over here? Would you do Do favor, move over here real quick. >> I'm not resisting. All right. Stay right there real quick. All right. I'm going to have you do me a favor, do me a favor, just take a step to the side. All right. Oh, [ __ ] I know, it's pretty crammed in there. Grab. All right. Watch your hand. We're testing. >> Yeah. >> Listen, man. I mean, you need to be honest with me. So, what's inside the capsule? >> 52 >> What is that white powder? >> We're going to We're going to test that in a minute. >> No. >> I just I just want you to just be honest with >> So, we can at least be safe. >> Yeah. And it's uh >> Fentanyl. >> It's fentanyl? Okay. Okay. Thank you. And And what is What's What's in the uh tin foil? >> Uh that's what I used to smoke it with. >> That's what you used to smoke it with? >> Yep. >> Okay. All right. Well, I I appreciate you being honest with me, man. And you used the little pen there to smoke it, the little tube? >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Can I tell you guys where I get it from? >> You can tell us where Okay. I'll talk to you about that in a second. Um you're getting it over here in Florida? >> Yep. >> You are? >> Yep. >> Who are you getting it from? >> Carlos. >> Carlos? >> Yep. You're going to be able to >> Tell me where Carlos is located? Okay. I'll talk to you in a minute. >> What? >> We were going to the jail until you told us that you ingested I asked you, you said it's in you. >> I I didn't say I didn't say I ingested I said if I had anything else I would have told you about Well, we just got it. >> Okay. >> This it is. This is a scheduled substance. So this is But 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. Just like last time, do you have everything right here? There you go. All right, have a seat. >> Crank up the air for me when we get in the car. >> Before showing surveillance photos, the deputy read Miranda warnings. The subject waived and agreed to talk. Miranda v. Arizona requires exactly that before any custodial interrogation. Confronted with the photos, the subject confessed. He directed deputies to a polo shirt he had ditched nearby the one he changed out of right after the theft. Changing clothes and hiding them after a crime is consciousness of guilt evidence. Courts treat post-offense concealment as proof the subject knew exactly what he had done. The subject disclosed a prior shoplifting conviction from about a year earlier. Florida Statute 812.014 elevates petty theft to a felony on a third conviction. A misdemeanor became a felony up to 5 years in prison from a disclosure the subject made voluntarily without a lawyer present. Under United States v. Robinson, a lawful arrest authorizes a full search of the person. No warrant needed. Deputies found fentanyl in his back pocket. Fentanyl possession is a third-degree felony under Florida Statute 893.13. The tin foil and smoking tube add a paraphernalia count. Two new charges from one pocket. The subject disclosed he was still on active probation. Florida statute 948.06 makes any new criminal conduct a violation reopening his full original sentence. En route to jail, he said he may have ingested narcotics. Deputies diverted to a hospital. A custody death from undisclosed ingestion costs a life. That call was right. The lead deputy gets an A minus. Miranda compliance was clean. The non-custodial approach yielded critical evidence. The medical diversion was correct. The deduction Terry stop basis not verbalized on camera, the subject gets a C plus. He did not resist and was honest once confronted. The damage was self-inflicted concealment fentanyl on probation and waving Miranda without counsel. The lesson is compounding exposure. The prior conviction turned theft into a felony. Active probation turned new charges into a revocation. One bad call layered onto the next. The real cost of waving Miranda without counsel his post-waiver statements established. The felony enhancement confirmed the fentanyl and identified a second stolen item. Silence would have changed everything. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you would like us to cover in the comments below. Thank you for watching and don't forget to check out our channel for more police interaction and courtroom content.