Peter Martinez

Shortly after 8 p.m. Friday night, deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to Rite-Aid on a call of a combative shoplifter fighting with store employees. Arriving in less than two minutes, deputies found (S) Peter Martinez 38, Fillmore, being held on the ground by two store employees and a customer.

The investigation determined Martinez had secreted seven “Secret” brand deodorant products (valued at less than $40 total) in a plastic bag he’d brought with him into the store. Martinez purchased some other items, but failed to pay for the deodorant and walked out of the store with the stolen merchandise.

A loss prevention employee who had watched Martinez commit the theft, identified himself as a loss prevention officer with the store and attempted to stop him outside the store. Martinez fought with the loss prevention officer in an effort to escape, turning the misdemeanor shoplift into a felony robbery. A second store employee and a customer assisted the loss prevention officer in detaining Martinez until deputies arrived. The store employees suffered minor injuries in the struggle; the customer was uninjured. Martinez was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for 211 P.C. Robbery, with bail set at $120,000. Courtesy of Fillmore Police Department.