PALM COAST, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested two people from Jacksonville on Monday after deputies said they attempted to steal more than $2,500 worth of sports trading cards from a Target store in Palm Coast.
Deputies were already at the store investigating an unrelated bicycle theft when store security alerted them to the shoplifting attempt, a sheriff’s office news release states.
Target loss prevention staff recognized 27-year-old Andrew Simmons as a suspect from previous retail thefts, the news release states. Store employees observed Simmons enter the building, select a plastic storage container, fill it with 98 packs of sports trading cards and walk out of the store without paying, the news release states.
Deputies spotted Simmons in the parking lot carrying the container toward a black BMW sedan driven by 35-year-old Madeline Whaley. When deputies approached, Simmons placed the container on the ground and ran toward the vehicle before deputies arrested him and Whaley, the news release states.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies found methamphetamine, fentanyl, crumpled tinfoil with burnt residue and a glass pipe, the release states. A backpack belonging to Whaley was also searched and deputies found a handgun that was confirmed stolen from Jacksonville, the news release states.
Deputies also found Simmons was a fugitive with four active arrest warrants, including a failure to appear warrant in St. Johns County and three grand theft charges in Clay County.
Simmons was charged with grand theft, possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and his active warrants.
Whaley was charged with accessory after the fact, possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, grand theft of a firearm, use of a firearm during a felony and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Both remain in jail. Simmons is being held without bond, while Whaley is being held on a $25,000 bond.
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