An unemployed Ocala couple who claimed they needed two coffee makers and a griddle to start a roadside business were arrested Sunday afternoon at the Summerfield Wal-Mart.
A loss prevention officer at the store, located at 17961 S U.S. Hwy. 27/441, told a Marion County deputy that he watched a man and woman, later identified as Jonathan and Crystal Rodriguez “acting suspicious” in the housewares section. He said they put two coffee makers, valued at $89 apiece, and a griddle, valued at $79.84, in their cart before heading to the grocery aisles and then back to the general merchandise area. They then left the store without paying for the items, a sheriff’s office report states.
The loss prevention officer said he approached the couple and asked them to come to his office, which they did. He said he recovered all the stolen items and the couple cooperated and waited for deputies to arrive, the report says.
Jonathan Rodriguez, 32, told the deputy he selected the items, pushed the cart and told Crystal Rodriguez they were going to steal the items, the report says, adding he didn’t have the money to pay for the items needed to “start a business on the side of the road to sell food and drink.”
Crystal Rodriguez confirmed her husband’s story but said “they both worked together equally in the theft.” When asked for her identification, she told the deputy that she had a small amount of marijuana inside her purse, which was located inside a small pink Johnson & Johnson container, along with two pairs of small scissors with black residue on them, one razor blade, playing cards and a package of 4Ks sweet and delicious cigars, the report says.
The green leafy substance and residue on the scissors found in Crystal Rodriguez’s purse tested positive for marijuana, the report says, adding that she told the deputy she uses the scissors and razor blade to cut up the marijuana and the cigars to smoke the drug.
Both Jonathan and Crystal Rodriguez were taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail. Jonathan Rodriguez was charged with petit theft and held without bond. Crystal Rodriguez was charged with petit theft, possession of marijuana not more than 20 grams and possession of drug equipment. She was being held on $3,000 bond.