Man allegedly stole and destroyed plants worth over $800 at Walmart in Ocala

A 24-year-old Ocala man was arrested this week on charges of theft and criminal damage after allegedly destroying over $800 worth of plants he was trying to steal from a local Walmart.

Earlier this year, on May 5, a Marion County Sheriff's deputy was called to a Walmart at 34 Bahia Avenue in Ocala where there was a shoplifting incident. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with a theft prevention officer who advised him that a “suspicious male and female” were “walking around in front of the store” while pushing two “fully loaded” shopping carts, according to the police report.

The employee reported that the suspect, later identified as Trevenski Lennard Fitzgerald, was pushing a shopping cart full of plants past the cash registers. As Fitzgerald approached one of the exits, another employee attempted to stop him from leaving with the unpaid items and he reportedly “threw the cart at the wall” before leaving the store.

The officer noted in the report that video surveillance from the store showed suspect Fitzgerald pushing a shopping cart full of plants past all of the merchandise outlets. When the clerk attempted to stop Fitzgerald near the exit, he allegedly threw the cart to the ground and walked toward the parking lot.

The report said the plants in the shopping cart, valued at $840, were “destroyed.”

Four months later, on Saturday, September 7, an MCSO officer responded to the same Walmart after the loss prevention employee allegedly observed Fitzgerald selling “merchandise under the ring binder” in the store. The employee also suspected that Fitzgerald was the person who attempted to steal the plants on May 5.

While inside the store, the deputy made contact with Fitzgerald. After being read his Miranda rights, Fitzgerald allegedly admitted to “knocking over plants outside the store” in May when an “employee accused him of theft,” according to the report.

On Monday, September 9, a Marion County judge issued an arrest warrant. Two days later, Fitzgerald was located and arrested. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on $4,000 bail.

Fitzgerald is charged with the following counts: grand theft of more than $300 but less than $5,000, criminal damage to property causing damage of more than $200 but less than $1,000, and shoplifting of $300 or more.

According to prison records, no court date has been scheduled yet.