BEDFORD – A Bloomington man is facing multiple charges, including two counts of theft and criminal mischief, following investigations conducted by Walmart’s Asset Protection.
According to a Probable Cause Affidavit filed by Bedford Police Department Detective Major Kye Louden on February 23, 2023, the alleged incidents occurred on December 30, 2022, and February 1, 2023, at the Bedford Walmart.
The investigation began on February 6, 2023, after Detective Major Louden reviewed documentation provided by a Walmart Asset Protection Investigator. He detailed two separate theft incidents involving a male identified as John Logan Parkes, 35, including voluntary statements, receipts, and video footage.
According to Baker’s statement regarding the December 29-30, 2022, incident, Parkes allegedly arrived at the Walmart in a white Ford truck and was observed near the Lawn and Garden department multiple times. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Parkes’ truck near a cut lock and chain on the gate leading to the lawn and garden patio. Later, the same truck was seen again, and a Go-Kart that had been inside the gated area was allegedly observed being pulled out and loaded into the truck. Parkes then left the property without paying for the Go-Kart and damaged the gate’s locking mechanism.
In a separate incident on February 1, 2023, the Walmart Asset Protection Investigator saw Parkes enter the store through the lawn and garden entrance without any items. Parkes allegedly selected multiple items throughout the store before proceeding to the pharmacy department and then exiting the store past all points of sale without paying. The identified items stolen in this instance totaled $100.23 before tax and included frozen pizza, bleach, laundry detergent, motor oil, wiper blades, and a storage tote.
On February 3, 2023, the Walmart Asset Protection Investigator and another Asset Protection employee located Parkes inside the store and contacted the Bedford Police Department to issue a trespass order against him, noting he had been previously trespassed from all Walmart locations.
Detective Major Louden reviewed the provided video footage for both incidents. While the video for the December 30th incident showed a truck matching the description of Parkes’ vehicle, the footage was reportedly too dark and distant to identify the individual operating the Go-Kart or to confirm that it was loaded into the truck. However, video evidence reportedly corroborated the Walmart Asset Protection Investigator’s account of the February 1st theft.
During a phone conversation with Detective Major Louden on February 15, 2023, Parkes initially denied knowledge of the stolen Go-Kart. However, after being informed about the video evidence from both incidents and documentation of him allegedly selling a Go-Kart online, Parkes admitted to stealing items from inside the store on February 1st. He also eventually admitted to selling the Go-Kart, stating that a friend used his truck to steal it, but they both profited from the sale and knew it was stolen. Parkes identified his roommate as the friend involved in the Go-Kart theft, but claimed to only communicate with him through Facebook and did not provide a direct contact number.
As of February 23, 2023, the roommate had not contacted Detective Major Louden. Attempts to locate him on Facebook and through local police were unsuccessful. A visit to Parkes’ residence in Bloomington on the same date also yielded no contact.
Based on the investigation, Detective Major Louden concluded that there was probable cause to believe that Parkes committed two counts of theft and criminal mischief. An arrest warrant was requested for Parkes. The affidavit also noted that Parkes was reportedly out on bond for other pending criminal charges at the time of the report.
Parkes was detained on Tuesday, April 22.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
