A 40-year-old Ocala man with two prior theft convictions was arrested after he was accused of stealing merchandise from a Walmart in Marion County.
On Friday, September 30, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to the Walmart located at 17961 S Highway 441 in Summerfield in reference to a retail theft incident.
Upon arrival, the corporal made contact with an asset protection officer at the store who advised that a male suspect, later identified as Anthony Jerome Williams, had been observed switching the barcode stickers on multiple lower-priced food items. The employee advised that Williams then placed these stickers onto items that had a higher price.
The employee stated that Williams went to the self-checkout register, scanned several items at the lower price, and he then attempted to exit the store after completing the transaction.
The employee stated that contact was made with Williams after he had passed all points of sale. When the employee requested for Williams to go to the asset protection office to review the transaction, Williams refused, and he walked out of the store.
Williams left the store’s parking lot in a vehicle, and another employee managed to take a picture of the vehicle’s license plate.
The corporal reviewed the store’s video surveillance footage and noted in the report that the male suspect was observed scanning some items and failing to scan other items. The suspect then placed all of these items into bags.
While the male suspect was scanning the items, the corporal observed a distinctive “cross” tattoo with shading on the middle of his left forearm. The corporal later ran a criminal background check of Williams and located a booking photo which showed that Williams had the same tattoo on his left forearm.
The total amount of the transaction that was rung up by Williams at the self-checkout register was $77.20. The MCSO report states that the actual amount of this transaction, based on the store’s correct pricing, was $251.26.
The total loss for the store was just over $174.
The corporal contacted the registered owner of the vehicle that Williams was operating when he left the store. The owner advised that Williams was in possession of the vehicle on the day of the theft, and the owner told the corporal that Williams had used the vehicle throughout the day.
The vehicle’s owner provided the corporal with Williams’ contact information, and the corporal made contact with him at the Ocala Sports Complex. After being read his Miranda rights, Williams admitted that he was at the Walmart store at the time of the theft.
Williams advised that he was confronted by an alleged Walmart employee, and he admitted that he left the store because the employee “wanted him to go to the office.”
While in the store’s parking lot, Williams stated that he saw someone “chasing after him with a dark object.” He claimed that he left the parking lot quickly because he feared for his own safety.
Williams denied changing the price tags of the store’s items. He told the corporal that he paid for all the items. During the interview, the corporal observed the same distinctive “cross” tattoo on Williams’ left forearm.
The MCSO report states that a computer search of Williams revealed that he has prior theft convictions in Miami-Dade (2004) and Ocala (2010).
Williams was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $2,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for second degree petit theft (third or subsequent offense).
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, November 1 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.