Teen arrested for drugs, theft after stealing tip jar
On Wednesday, Paso Robles Police Department officers arrested Joseph Jeffrey Mikkelsen,19, for possession of suspected heroin, drug paraphernalia, shoplifting, and violation of probation. Mikkelsen was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail for these charges.
Joseph Mikkelsen
The arrest came after officers responded to a business in the 800 block of 11th Street, Paso Robles, on a report of a theft. The store clerk reported that a white male adult had stolen her tip jar from the counter area of the store. She gave officers a description of the suspect and said he fled the store toward Spring Street. The clerk estimated $27 was contained in the tip jar.
An initial search of the area for the suspect was unsuccessful. However, approximately 15 minutes later the victim called the police and reported seeing the suspect in the area again. The suspect was chased from the area by the store owner and last seen near the train station on Pine Street.
Officers arrived in the area and successfully located the suspect on the train loading platform. Officers determined he was on probation for grand theft in SLO County. He was also positively identified as the suspect responsible for stealing the tip jar. The suspect told officers he stole the tip jar to pay back his drug dealer. None of the stolen money was able to be recovered.
Officers transported Mikkelsen to the police station for booking and processing. During that process, he was found in possession of a small amount of heroin, needles, and determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Mikkelsen was later transported to SLO County Jail where he was booked on the following charges:
• PC 459.5 – Shoplifting (Misdemeanor)
• HS 11350 – Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor)
• HS 11550(a) – Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor)
• PC 1203.2 – Violation of Probation
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