Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Community Policing Unit

Deputy Noel Dunham
Age: 53
Hire Date: 10/19/1986

Deputy John Luckett
Age: 43
Hire Date: 10/12/2012

Deputy Jeremy Dressback
Age: 36
Hire Date: 01/22/2003

Deputy Eric Gibson
Age: 47
Hire Date: 03/20/1995

Sergeant Dave DiSano
Age: 39
Hire Date: 06/24/2002

Suspects:

Casey B. Holland
DOB: 12/14/1987 (Arrested)
Address:  91143 82^nd Way North, Largo  
Arrested for Retail Theft and Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

Tiffani R. Yantis (Arrested)
DOB: 02/13/1987
Address: Transient
Arrested on Warrant for VOP Grand Theft (Pinellas County SO)

Durente M. Jerry (Arrested)
DOB: 06/27/1979
Address: 12717 133^rd Avenue North, Largo
Arrested on Warrant for FTA-Burglary,Criminal Mischief, Grand Theft (Hillsborough SO)

Jennifer A. Airey  (Arrested)
DOB: 12/12/85
Address: Transient
Notice to Appear for Retail Theft

What:
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Community Policing Unit is taking steps to ensure the safety of shoppers and their merchandise this holiday season .  As a result of a bike patrol detail, members of the Unit apprehended three suspect and issued a notice to appear to a fourth suspect for theft of merchandise items to include a 39” television.

When:
The arrests occurred at the new Seminole Walmart located at 10237 Bay Pines Boulevard in Seminole.

Bike Patrols are conducted during the Holiday Season and year-round.

Where:
The arrests occurred on Friday, December 19, 2014.

Bike Patrols occur at various locations throughout Pinellas County.

Why/How:
As deputies assigned to the Community Policing Unit were conducting a bike patrol at the Seminole Walmart on December 19th, they were notified of a theft in progress by the Walmart security guard. Deputies say the suspects were known to each other and were coordinating as one of them stole a 39” television.

Due to their on-site presence, members of the bike patrol were able to immediately respond and conduct an investigation which led to the arrest of 27-year-old Casey Holland who had walked out of Walmart with the 39 inch flat screen TV. He was also found to be carrying a concealed weapon, a large kitchen knife. Deputies say three other suspects, Tiffany Yantis, Durente Jerry and Jennifer Airey were known to each other and to Holland. Yantis and Jerry were arrested for the above listed warrants; while Airey was issued a Notice to Appear for Retail Theft.

The suspects were transported to the Pinellas County Jail without further incident.

The merchandise was returned to Walmart staff.

This and other bike patrols have been planned due to the high volume of customers expected at various shopping centers this Holiday Season.

Throughout the year Community Policing Deputies target shopping centers or neighborhoods and patrol these areas on their assigned mountain bike. These bikes are specially equipped to keep the deputy and public safe.

Advantages to using these bikes is its stealth like capability when approaching criminal activity, maneuverability through obstacles, and most of all the opportunity to have interactions with citizens who can provide valuable information regarding suspicious activity.

Bike patrols such as these will continue through the holiday season and beyond.