A Lego set, sports trading cards and a candle don’t exactly sound like the makings of a major police investigation. But Evansville police say those items were tied to an alleged theft operation involving multiple Target locations, three arrests and a traffic stop that reportedly turned up suspected drugs.
The investigation began Monday when officers responded to the east-side Target after a reported theft. According to the police report, dispatchers told officers that three suspects were believed to be part of a group moving between Evansville Target stores and stealing merchandise.
Police later spotted the vehicle associated with the suspects and pulled it over. Inside were Miranda Hedrick, Pagerick Moody and Mario Smith, who were all placed in handcuffs.
Cops put the pieces together and made arrests
Smith reportedly gave officers his version of what had happened. He said he had been trying to return a Lego set at Target but was turned away because he didn’t have a receipt. He also reportedly told police that he believed Hedrick and Moody had been inside the store stealing.
Target’s asset protection employees told officers that Hedrick allegedly took a candle, Moody allegedly took a Lego set and sports trading cards, and Smith allegedly took sports trading cards. While officers were recovering the merchandise, police say they noticed Smith trying to destroy a baggie containing what they identified as K2…