
An Apple Valley man found himself behind bars after reportedly lifting goods from a local sports retailer, in what marks one of the first applications of Proposition 36—a law aiming to clamp down on recidivist misdemeanors linked with broader social concerns such as homelessness and drug addiction. Perry Curtis Mack, a 34-year-old resident, got popped on the afternoon of January 10 at a Dick's Sporting Goods in Victorville, according to the SBSD Victorville Police Department.
The proposition, which gained voter approval last November and rolled out in mid-December, introduces harsher penalties for certain crimes and widens the law enforcement's net on repeat offenders. It holds Proposition 47 responsible for upsurges in homelessness, drug addiction, and theft, though opinions on the subject are as varied as the California landscape. Deputies, responding to a theft report at roughly 3:15 p.m., executed a traffic stop and subsequently detained Mack who they believed was linked to the crime. A search of his vehicle revealed the stolen merchandise in question, leading to his arrest, and booking at High Desert Detention Center on charges of Petty Theft with Two or More Prior Convictions—a direct consequence of Proposition 36's new legal provisions.
Detailed in a press release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Mack's interaction with law enforcement was notably straight-forward, with no incident occurring during his detention. Goods from Dick's were recovered, yet the authorities are keen to root out further information and have beckoned the community to step forward. Tips can be confidentially shared via the We-Tip hotline at 1-800-78CRIME, with the option to remain anonymous.