The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office charged Jonathan Scott Qualls, 26, of Milton, with public order crimes, larceny, fraud-swindle, and dealing in stolen property. According to reports, a Gulf Breeze Wal-Mart Asset Protection Manager (APM) watched on surveillance video Qualls and another male, take two bottles of motor oil from the sales shelf. The APM then saw them go to the customer service area, leave the oil on the counter, return shortly thereafter, and request a refund. Qualls provided a Florida driver’s license number, reports said, and the clerk processed a refund to a Wal-Mart gift card for $82.59. This was the first gift card.
Reports said the card was activated at 4:28 then used twice at the Murphy’s Gas Station in the same parking lot. The card was used for $5 in gas and $5.36 for other items. At 5:40 Qualls tried to “reload” the card from Gulf Breeze by returning two bottles of motor oil at a Pensacola Wal-Mart on Creighton Road, an attempt of $81.64. According to reports, it failed, and Qualls left the store with the oil he never purchased. At the same time, the other man returned what appeared to be two halogen light bulbs he brought into the store for $53.69, which the service clerk loaded on to the second gift card. The next transaction on the first card, according to reports, was a purchase of a cell phone and phone card at 6:29 p.m. at the Pace Wal-Mart.
A photo lineup was generated including Qualls, according to reports. The lineup was presented to the customer service clerk who completed the original transaction at the Gulf Breeze Wal-Mart. The clerk, reports said, positively identified Qualls as the white mail who provided the Florida driver’s license and completed the fraudulent refund. Reports do not indicate any sort of charges for his accomplice. Qualls is currently being held at the Santa Rosa County jail with $41,000 bond.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SRSO: Milton man arrested for public order crimes, larceny