News

Two linked to theft from store

By Ray King OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, October 17, 2009 2:15 AM CDT

A Pine Bluff man and woman identified from store video surveillance tapes could be charged with felony theft, a special judge ruled Friday.

Judge Bryan Achorn said prosecutors had probable cause to charge Garrius Davis, 28, and Emma Powell, 22, both of Pine Bluff with theft of property, based on an affidavit from police detective Phillip Meachem.

Reading from that affidavit, Deputy Prosecutor Jill Reed said police were sent to the Valero store at 3000 E. Harding Ave. Tuesday where the manager reported that approximately $1,000 in cash had been taken.

Reed said a clerk told officers a black Ford Crown Victoria containing a male and female had pulled up and the female came in and bought several lottery tickets.

Meachem reported that the female saw the clerk place the cash in an envelope and put it near the cash register, then left the store and returned a few minutes later with the male, who distracted the clerk by asking for items behind the clerk, while the female took the envelope and left, followed a few minutes later by the male.

Reed said detectives watching the store surveillance tapes identified Davis, who was at the county detention center on a charge of public intoxication, and was about to bond out when they located him.

Davis reportedly claimed that the woman, who he knew only as “Felicia” had asked him to take her to the store to buy cigarettes, and he “didn’t know anything about her taking money,” Reed quoted the affidavit as saying, adding that Davis claimed he dropped the woman off in the area of 11th Avenue and Ohio Street.

Reed said Powell was also at the detention center on other charges and was also about to bond out when she was interviewed.

Meachem said she denied any knowledge of the theft, but detectives prepared photo lineups with pictures of Davis and Powell included and one store employee identified Davis, while another identified Powell.

Achorn set a $2,500 bond for Powell, who Reed said had no prior or pending felony charges.

Because state law required it, Achorn set a $10,000 bond for Davis, who Reed said had a criminal history dating back to 1999, and had seven pending cases in circuit court, and was out on bond on those cases.

Achorn revoked those bonds, telling Davis he would be held at the county detention center without bond until he and his attorney talked to Judge Rob Wyatt Jr. about the revocations.

Davis and Powell were also ordered to stay away from the Valero store and have no contact with the owner or any of the employees until the case is settled.

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