Pair of suspected thieves apprehended at Walmart in Leesburg

A pair of Leesburg men were arrested for allegedly hiding merchandise in their clothes to steal them from a Walmart in Leesburg. 

Police responded to a retail theft in progress at Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Boulevard, around 8:52 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The store’s asset protection associate observed two males concealing items in their pants. 

The officer arrived at the store and spoke with the associate, the report said. He advised that the subjects, later identified as 41-year-old Matthew Lee Pasco and 54-year-old Mitchell Matthew Monteverdi, were going toward the entrance and showed the officer a video of them. 

Pasco began to leave the store with the items still concealed, leading the officer to secure him in handcuffs and escort him to the asset protection office to be searched. Items belonging to the store were found in his jacket and waistband, the report said. 

While the officer was in the office, others responded to assist in apprehending Monteverdi. He stopped at the customer service center on the way to the entrance, all the while concealing merchandise. Two officers then approached him and ordered him to stop, the report said. 

Monteverdi continued to walk away from the officers. As they physically engaged with him, he began to tense and pull away. They eventually handcuffed him, and a search of his person was conducted. They found items belonging to the store as well as a fixed blade knife with an approximate blade length of five and a quarter inches, the report said. 

In the office, the arresting officer asked for Pasco’s name and date of birth, both of which he lied about. He was asked for the right information once more, but he reiterated what he previously stated. Further investigation revealed his real name and the he had an active warrant for possession of fentanyl out of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the report said. 

Monteverdi gave his correct name and birth date when asked. He had previous felony convictions, with the most recent being in February and March of 1997, the report said. 

During the investigation, it was determined that both men stole the following items: two packs of batteries, one bottle of butane fuel, one para cord, one bottle of starting fuel, one bottle of motor oil and one orange para cord. These items totaled $50.53, the report said. 

Pasco was charged with petit retail theft (less than $750) and false ID to law enforcement officer. Monteverdi was charged with retail theft (two or more prior convictions), weapon (carry concealed) and resisting without violence. Both were transported to Lake County Jail with bonds set at $3,000 and $4,000, respectively.