The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida man may face battery charges after allegedly pelting pharmacy workers with Snickers candy bars during a dispute over their refusal to sell him cigarettes.
In the early morning hours of September 4, a male customer walked into a Walgreens in Clearwater to purchase a pack of cigarettes. He approached the checkout counter and asked the employee for a pack of 305 brand cigarettes.
Walgreens has a policy requiring identification for the purchase of cigarettes, and the clerk asked the man to display his card. It was reported that he did not have his legal ID on him at the time, but he had a photograph of the card. He presented the picture, but the employee said they were unable to accept anything other than the ID itself.
According to reports, the would-be customer was so angry by the denial that he began throwing Snickers candy bars at the employee, and one of them struck her in the face. A second employee got involved after the man was asked to leave the store but refused. Instead, he allegedly threw Snickers bars at the second employee as well, and one allegedly hit his chest.
The authorities were notified, and officers from the Clearwater Police Department went to the location.
When the police spoke to the man about the alleged candy assault, they believed he was intoxicated. He reportedly said he did not mean to throw the bars at the second employee, though eyewitnesses reported that he did.
The suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He is preliminarily facing charges for two counts of misdemeanor battery. He was released from the correctional facility after posting a $1,000 bond.
The arrest affidavit notes that the “weapon” was not confiscated.
If you or someone you love is suspected of an assault or battery offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.