Gainesville man charged with series of retail thefts

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Justin Charles Clifford Ward, 23, was arrested yesterday and charged with a series of retail thefts from Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Starbucks.

A Gainesville Police Department officer compiled a master report for a series of retail thefts between May 31 and August 17, 2024, for merchandise valued at about $1,638. A second person was reportedly involved in some of the incidents but is not named in the report.

On May 31, Ward allegedly loaded a shopping cart with $348 in merchandise at the Home Depot on NW 4th Boulevard and pushed the loaded cart out of the store without paying; he reportedly got into a pickup truck belonging to his co-defendant.

On July 23, he allegedly loaded a shopping cart with $578 in merchandise from Lowe’s and pushed it out without paying. A Lowe’s Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) used a database to identify the suspect as Ward, and after the GPD officer compared Ward’s photos with security footage, Ward was established as the suspect.

On August 13, Ward allegedly loaded a shopping cart with $277 in merchandise at Home Depot, pushed the cart out without paying, and got into the same pickup truck.

On August 17, Ward allegedly loaded a shopping cart with $435 in merchandise at Walmart and pushed it out without paying; he was reportedly with the same co-defendant and left in the same pickup truck. An LPO captured the tag, which was registered to Ward’s co-defendant.

On August 21, Ward was arrested for allegedly stealing a tip jar containing $3 from the Starbucks at 201 SE 1st Street; the incident was reportedly captured on video. The report alleges that Ward also stole from that store the previous evening.

Post Miranda, Ward reportedly confessed to both tip jar thefts and said he did not know how much money he had taken the previous evening. When he was asked about the retail thefts, he reportedly said he “messed up” because he “stole a lot.” He reportedly asked how many thefts the police knew about, and when the officer responded, “A few,” he said, “Like 10?” He reportedly identified himself on the security video from Walmart. He said he had been staying in a “trap” house and had been selling the stolen items for drugs.

Ward has a juvenile conviction and one adult felony conviction (non-violent). He has a pending summons for trespassing and theft. In December 2023, a sworn complaint was filed, charging him with repeated shoplifting incidents from the Eastside Food Store, but the charges were dropped a week later. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $12,000 for the new incidents.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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