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The incident took place around 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 17 when the officers noticed a gold Infiniti in the area of Main Avenue and Broad Street. Team members watched as the vehicle, with four people inside, pulled into a gas station and made note of the vehicle, said Sgt. Sofia Gulino.
The officers continued on to complete work on a different case, and about 30 minutes later passed through the area again, and observed the same Infiniti parked there.
Simultaneously, two of the occupants were observed sprinting through the lot of Walgreens and later re-entering the Infiniti parked at the gas station across the street. The odd behavior caught the officers’ attention, prompting the officers to follow and watch their next movements, Gulino said.
The vehicle was then driven to Dunkin' Donuts on East Avenue and parked in the lot. The same two occupants exited the vehicle, and crossed the street and walked to Rite Aid. After several minutes passed, the same two individuals returned, empty-handed and entered the vehicle again.
Officers at this point became suspicious that the individuals might be involved in criminal activity. The vehicle exited the lot. Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop. During the stop, a marijuana cigarette was observed in plain view.
Officers searched the occupants and the vehicle and located backpacks filled with an assortment of suspected stolen goods valued at over $4,500, a small plastic bag containing marijuana, a grinder, and a shoplifting device utilized to open showcases or display cases specifically designed to protect valuable items, Gulino said.
The officers contacted management at the stores that the individuals had been observed coming out of, and the staff confirmed that items were missing. The stolen items included multiple boxes of Whitening Strips and Rogaine foam. The officers were able to gather enough evidence to find probable cause to arrest all four occupants of the vehicle for their involvement in the incident.
Those arrested included:
- Isaiah Edwards, 27, of St. Albans
- Wise McGill, 28, of Brooklyn
- Stephon Smith, 20, of St. Albans
- Vaquan Williams, 28, of Brooklyn
All were charged with organized retail theft, larceny, possession of a shoplifting device, possession of marijuana and conspiracy.
Wise was also wanted for a probation violation warrant out of New York.
All were held on a $50,000 bond
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