PALM COAST – The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on Monday arrested 46 year-old David Romero at Palm Coast’s Target store, on an out-of-county warrant plus charges that he’d stolen sex toys from inside the store.
The FCSO received a call Monday that Romero had stolen from Target, and located what they believed to be his white pickup truck pulling away from the store. The communications center informed deputies that the owner of this truck had an active arrest warrant in Putnam County for third degree grand theft, and a high-risk traffic stop began.
After deputies handcuffed Romero, they began walking him to the patrol car and his pants fell down. Out of the pants fell a bright pink vibrating adult toy which police say was stolen from Target. It appeared to begin vibrating after hitting the ground. The deputy also discovered a variety of other products such as lubricant, personal protection, and a t-shirt which were not paid for in the store. Romero had apparently paid for some food items that he’d picked up, but not the other ones.
Romero was taken to the county jail and booked on one count of petit theft as well as four counts of first degree larceny. He’s still being held on $3,000 bond as of Tuesday afternoon. Romero’s criminal history includes a 2012 arrest for child abuse without great harm, disorderly intoxication, and resisting an officer nonviolently.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.