OCT. 23 — Two businesses contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation in Royal Palm Beach on Tuesday to report incidents of fraud. According to separate PBSO reports, both stores reported receiving counterfeit bills for purchases. According to the first PBSO report, when an employee of Walgreens on Southern Blvd. was counting her cash register she discovered two counterfeit $100 bills. According to the report, the employee said that one was used shortly before 8:40 p.m., when she counted the register. The other bill was believed to be used sometime between 3:40 and 7:30 p.m. According to the report, video surveillance footage showed the suspect who used the second fake bill. The suspect is described as a tan white or black male, approximately 5-foot-4 and 150 lbs., wearing dark shoes and shorts, a gray shirt and a red hat. There was no further information available at the time of the report. In a second PBSO report, a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation was dispatched to the Toys “R” Us on State Road 7 after someone used $55 in counterfeit bills. According to the report, an employee said that a tall, older white male came into the store at approximately 4 p.m. and spent $49.99 plus tax to purchase an item, using the counterfeit money to pay for it. The employee said several hours later the man returned and attempted to exchange the item for cash with a receipt. According to the report, the employee handed the counterfeit money back to the man, at which time he became upset and refused to accept it. The suspect then left the store and got into a blue Grand Marquis, fleeing the area. There was no further information available at the time of the report.
OCT. 17 — A man was arrested early last Wednesday morning on felony charges of impersonating a police officer following a traffic stop on Southern Blvd. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was on patrol in the area when he pulled over a Dodge van. According to the report, the vehicle’s tag came back as registered to a Chevrolet pickup truck. The deputy made contact with the driver, 44-year-old Gary Giannotti. According to the report, as the deputy ran the vehicle’s identification number through the dispatch, Giannotti handed him a PBSO identification card with his name, picture and identification number. According to the report, the deputy checked the PBSO employee database and noticed Giannotti’s name was not in the system. Giannotti was arrested and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer and failure to register a motor vehicle.
OCT. 17 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched to a home in Kensington Way last Wednesday afternoon regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., someone entered the victim’s home and stole about $1,000 cash along with several pieces of jewelry. The deputy believes the perpetrator(s) entered the home by forcing open a window in the living room. The perpetrator(s) then entered the master bedroom and removed cash and jewelry from the victim’s drawers. The stolen items were valued at approximately $6,000. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.
OCT. 18 — A man was arrested on felony charges following a foot chase through the St. Andrews Palm Beach community last Thursday afternoon. According to a PBSO report, deputies were on alert for 41-year-old Gary Miller, listed as at large, who was wanted for several charges. According to the report, at approximately 4:30 p.m. a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation observed Miller’s vehicle leaving Bobwhite Road in the Willows. The deputy joined in a car chase with other PBSO deputies, following Miller on State Road 7 and onto Belvedere Road. According to the report, Miller jumped out of the car near the intersection of Benoist Farms and Belvedere roads, running on foot into the St. Andrews community. The deputy followed and observed Miller throw a clear bag containing crack cocaine onto the road. According to the report, the deputy was able to apprehend Miller. He was arrested and taken to the county jail, where he faced several charges including resisting an officer with violence, tampering with evidence and cocaine possession.
OCT. 20 — A juvenile was arrested last Saturday evening on charges of drug possession after he was caught smoking at the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 6 p.m., a deputy from the Wellington substation was called to the food court patio of the mall after security officers observed six juveniles smoking in plain view on the patio. The deputy made contact with the group. During a search of one of the juveniles, the deputy discovered a baggie containing marijuana. The juvenile was arrested and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center, where he was charged with possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
OCT. 21 — An Acreage man was arrested early last Sunday morning on charges of drunken driving following a traffic stop on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was on patrol when he observed a white Land Rover make multiple traffic infractions. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, 54-year-old Whitfield Scott Jr. According to the report, the deputy detected signs of impairment and called in a second deputy to perform roadside tasks. But, according to the report, the deputy found Scott to be impaired to the point that roadside tasks were unsafe to perform. Scott was arrested and taken to the county jail, where breath tests revealed he had a blood alcohol level of .25. Scott was charged with driving under the influence.
OCT. 21 — A resident of Olympia contacted the PBSO substation in Wellington last Sunday morning regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 10 p.m. last Saturday and 10:20 a.m. the following morning, someone entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole the victim’s wallet from the center console. According to the report, the wallet contained $20 cash and a bank card. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.
OCT. 22 — A business owner in Commerce Park East contacted the PBSO substation in Wellington on Monday regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 2:32 p.m. Monday, July 23 and 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, someone removed a silver and black credit card machine from the business. The victim said the item was delivered by FedEx and is valued at approximately $599. There were no suspects at the time of the report.
OCT. 22 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded to a home in Olympia on Monday morning regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7:30 p.m. last Sunday and 10 a.m. the following morning, someone entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and removed a purple bag. The stolen bag was valued at approximately $50. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.
