A homeless pair claimed they stole clothes to look presentable at a child’s birthday party.
Deputies responded to Walmart in Summerfield for a theft in progress at 9:50 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The asset protection manager said that 34-year-old Michael Andrew Collado and 28-year-old Amber Elouise Wiggins were putting items in their bags and leaving the store without paying.
The manager added that Collado stole $142.30 in merchandise while Wiggins took $37.08 worth of items. Deputies stopped them both outside the store, and Collado pleaded with the manager not to press charges due to them being homeless. Collado admitted that he stole the bag on his back and everything inside it before dropping it on the ground, the report said.
Wiggins stated she had taken clothes and candy, dropping her items on the ground, as well. She said it was Collado who wanted to go to Walmart to get nice clothes so they could look presentable at a child’s birthday party. They did not have any money, and he told Wiggins to put the merchandise in her bag and leave the store, the report said.
Both were searched and deputies found a used piece of foil with burnt residue and half-cut straw with residue in Wiggins’ bag. A test of the straw came back positive for fentanyl, the report said.
A records check revealed Collado has a criminal history, including an arrest with a woman in 2018 at a store in Wildwood and an arrest with drugs in a Mercedes at Kohl’s in Lady Lake. He was arrested in 2023 with a pair of brass knuckles.
After being trespassed from the business, Collado was arrested on charge of petit theft (third or subsequent offense). He was transported to Marion County Jail with bond set at $2,500.
Wiggins was also trespassed and arrested on charges of petit theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was taken to jail with bond set at $1,500.