MIDLOTHIAN, VA (CBS Local) – A Virginia supermarket employee, who has gone deaf due to a rare disease, says a woman attacked her for not responding to the shopper’s question.

Liberty Gratz has been working at the Publix in Midlothian, VA since it opened last year. Both Liberty and her twin brother Triton suffer from Usher syndrome; a disease which normally leads to partial or total hearing loss and blindness. Most patients, like Liberty, are born with severe hearing loss and slowly lose both hearing and their sight over time.

According to the young woman, who was communicating through sign language to her mother, an unidentified woman approached her on April 21 while she was stocking a shelf and apparently tried to ask a question. “All of a sudden, I felt some woman hit me in my back,” Jeanette Gratz relayed, via WTKR.

Liberty’s mother says her daughter has already lost some of her vision and had no way of knowing the shopper was nearby and asking a question. “She doesn’t have that peripheral vision, so she’s really focused on her work,” Gratz explained. The 21-year-old communicates with her family using American Sign Language (ASL), but reportedly opts to write her conversations on paper while at work.

Liberty reported the incident to her Publix co-workers; however, surveillance cameras didn’t catch her attacker as the aisle was allegedly blocked from view by a crowd of shoppers. “It was hard for me to really see her face to make sure it was the right person,” Liberty’s mother translated, via CBS17.

Liberty and her mother added that they believe the attacker took out her frustration out on the unsuspecting store worker. “I will continue to pray for them, and I hope that things get better in their life so they can be better to other people,” the family said.

In February, friends of the Gratz family started a GoFundMe page to help raise money for Liberty and Triton to go to Disney before the siblings go blind. The fundraiser has already collected over $6,000 for the twins.

CHARLESTON, SC (CBS Local) – A South Carolina teen had his graduation cake censored by a local supermarket after the store failed to understand what “summa cum laude” meant.

The Latin phrase commonly used in academic – meaning “with greatest honor” – was requested by Cara Koscinski for her son’s surprise graduation cake she ordered online from Publix. “Publix refused to write the words Summa Cum Laude because I was using ‘profanity!’ They put three dashes instead of the word!” Koscinski wrote in a Facebook post. More specifically, the store’s strict computer algorithm censored “cum” because it mistakenly believed the mother was using a sexually-explicit term.

Although Koscinski left special instructions with Publix, explaining what summa cum laude actually meant, bakers still omitted the middle word and replaced it with the dashes. Koscinski’s husband did not know about the controversy and picked up the cake believing there were no issues.

18-year-old Jacob, who had just finished a Christian-based home school program with a 4.79 GPA, was reportedly “humiliated” by the mistake which had to be explained to the boy’s 70-year-old grandmother during the celebration.

According to The Washington Post, the online ordering system at Publix is still blocking customers from using the academic phrase. The South Carolina store did give Jacob’s mother a refund for the $70 cake as well as a store gift card when the gaffe was taken to a Publix assistant manager.

“Maybe I should have just gotten him his favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream instead,” Koscinski added.

PARKLAND, FL (CBS Local) – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor turned student activist David Hogg is calling for a “die-in” at Publix Super Markets on May 25 to protest the chains political donations to a pro-gun Republican gubernatorial candidate.

Hogg called Publix an “#NRASellOut” in a May 23 tweet.

The Parkland survivor wants all of his 800,000 Twitter followers to “die-in” at Publix stores, which means lie on the ground inside the supermarkets for 12 minutes at 4 p.m. Friday.

Hogg is critical of the Florida-based chain due to its donations to Adam Putnam. The supermarket has reportedly donated $670,000 in the past three years. The former U.S. representative recently described himself as a proud National Rifle Association supporter and he has a top rating from the group.

Additionally, Hogg wants people to boycott the popular supermarket until the company publicly pulls their endorsement of Putnam.

Publix released a statement promoting the company’s neutral political stance.

“We support bi-partisan, business-friendly candidates, regardless of political affiliation and we remain neutral on issues outside of our core business,” the statement read.

It is not known whether protesters will be forced to leave, or be arrested, if they lie down inside Publix stores.

A May 22 release added, “We regret that some of our political contributions have led to an unintentional customer divide instead of our desire to support a growing economy in Florida. As a result of this situation, we are evaluating our processes to ensure that our giving better reflects our intended desire to support a strong economy and a healthy community.”

[H/T CBS Miami]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (CBS Local) – A good Samaritan in Florida made this year’s Fourth of July celebration unforgettable after returning $1,300 to a man who lost it in a local supermarket.

According to police in Pinellas County, Chris Woods went to a Publix in Clearwater in late June. The shopper reportedly dropped the large sum of cash in the store parking lot while taking his phone out of his pocket.

Although Woods believed the money was gone forever, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office shared the surveillance images with the public on July 3 in the hopes someone found the cash and was willing to turn it in.

“This morning, my neighbor from across the street came over beating on the door and said, ‘Chris you were on the news. They found your money,'” Woods told a local Tampa news station.

The good Samaritan’s identity was not revealed, but Woods said he’s very blessed someone that generous found his money. “There’s good people in this world.”

EUSTIS, Fla. (CBS Local) – Police in Florida say a woman’s shopping trip to Publix ended in the meat department after she tried to steal several steaks by hiding them in her pants.

Police in Eustis were called to the supermarket on Aug. 6 when store security spotted Bobbie Talmadge stuffing items into her pants and her purse. The alleged shoplifter reportedly passed the cashier lines and tried to exit the Publix before she was stopped and arrested.

According to WKMG, Talmadge’s stolen junk in the trunk included “two New York strip steaks, a ribeye steak, a Porterhouse steak, T-bone steak cuts, and Publix chicken wings,” which totaled over $120. The woman also reportedly swiped two spray-on deodorants during her shopping trip.

Authorities say the woman gave officers the fake name of “Betty Blanton” before revealing her real identity. Talmadge was charged with theft and providing a false name to police.

It’s not the first time Talmadge has allegedly tried to get a five-finger discount while shopping. Eustis Police say she has been arrested 11 times on theft-related charges. Authorities did not say if those incidents also involved Talmadge’s pants.

FLORIDA (CBS Dallas Digital – CBS Local) – Publix is expanding its hours. Starting Saturday, May 16, stores will be open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Katie Johnston reports.

ATLANTA, Ga. (CW69 News at 10)

PRESS RELEASE:

CDC, several states, and FDA continue to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections linked to onions. More grocery stores and food manufacturers have recalled onions and food containing onions, and 244 more illnesses have been reported in the last week. An update is posted here: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/newport-07-20/index.html.

Key points:

1. If you don’t know where your onions are from, don’t eat, serve, or sell them or any food prepared with them.
2. CDC is advising consumers, restaurants, and retailers not to eat, serve, or sell any onions from Thomson International, Inc., or food made with these onions. This advice applies to red, white, yellow, and sweet onions.
3. Several companies have recalled onions and foods made with recalled onions, such as chicken salad, macaroni salad, fajita stir-fry, pizza, sub sandwiches, diced raw onions and peppers, and other salads. Check your homes for these recalled products and throw them away. Do not eat them or try to cook the onions or other food to make it safe.
4. Some of the onions, chopped raw onion mixes, or prepared foods were sold at stores including Walmart, Kroger, Fred Meyer, Publix, Giant Eagle, Food Lion, and H-E-B, under a variety of brand names, including Taylor Farms and Marketside.
5. Since our last update on July 31, 2020, an additional 244 ill people have been reported in this outbreak, including 15 from 10 new states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, and West Virginia.
6. A total of 640 ill people have now been reported from 43 states. 85 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
7. Links to recall information for this outbreak are available on the outbreak investigation notice.
8. You can find a list of all food safety recall notices on www.foodsafety.gov.
9. This investigation is ongoing. CDC will provide more information as it becomes available.

CDC advises people to take action if they have symptoms of a Salmonella infection:

1. Talk to your healthcare provider.
2. Write down what you ate in the week before you started to get sick.
3. Report your illness to the health department. The health department will likely call you for an interview to ask you about foods you ate in the week before you got sick.
4. Assist public health investigators by answering questions about your illness.

About Salmonella:

1. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
2. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.
3. In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient is hospitalized. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other parts of the body.
4. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.

If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.

 

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – A 75-year-old Daytona Beach man who recently had heart surgery was punched in the chest and knocked to the ground after asking a woman to maintain social distancing at a Publix store, police said.

The incident began Sunday evening as the man was checking out, Daytona Beach Shores police Capt. Mike Fowler said.

Read More

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (CW44 News At 10) – Citizens renewing vehicle tags in Pinellas County have yet another option to expedite the process. Tarpon Mall Publix has a brand new self-serve kiosk to help you avoid standing in long lines at the Tax Collector’s Office.

Pinellas County Tax Collector Charles W. Thomas announced the addition of the county’s seventh self-service kiosk, located at the Tarpon Mall Publix in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The brand-new kiosk allows customers to pay by credit card and renew their vehicle registration in under two minutes.

L to R: Pinellas County Tax Collector Charles W. Thomas showing Tarpon Springs Mayor Chris Alahouzos how the self-service kiosk works. This kiosk is located at the Tax Collector’s North County branch office.
Photo Credit: Pinellas County Tax Collector

With the addition of this seventh kiosk, self-service options for registration renewals are now evenly distributed throughout the county – at Tax Collector offices and select Publix stores. The ultimate goal behind this kiosk project is to create convenient and sophisticated self-service options for as many Pinellas County residents as possible.

The kiosks can be used to renew personal automobiles, pickup trucks, motorcycles, utility trailers, and camper trailers. Customers are guided through the kiosk process by voice prompts available in English or Spanish. They are quick and easy to use, and there is a nominal 2.3% credit or debit card transaction fee included in the transaction total.

Registration renewal self-service kiosks can be found at the following locations:

Tax Collector Offices:
North County – 29399 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, FL 33761
Mid County – 13025 Starkey Rd, Largo, FL 33773
Gulf to Bay – 1663 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33755
South County – 2500 34th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33713

Publix Stores:
Park Boulevard Plaza – 4701 Park Blvd N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Bay Pointe Plaza – 5295 34th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711
Tarpon Mall – 40932 US Highway 19 N., Tarpon Springs 34689

For more information about the kiosks visit taxcollect.com/self-service-kiosks.

©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ALSO IN PINELLAS COUNTY: Pinellas County Teen Saves His Father’s Life

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (CW44 News At 10) – Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, working with other state and local officials have developed 8 suspects statewide during an investigation that started in August of 2019. The suspects are allegedly responsible for the theft and illegal re-sale of high-dollar items such as baby formula, diapers, and energy drinks, resulting in felony charges of grand theft and racketeering, among other crimes.

The total estimated loss to retailers is $84,669, of which $10,520 occurred in Polk County.

The victims are: Publix, Southeastern Grocers (Winn-Dixie), and Walmart.

The 18 affected Florida counties were identified as Charlotte, Citrus, Desoto, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Levy, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia.

On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, five of the suspects were arrested in Hillsborough County and booked into the HCSO jail. One suspect was arrested in Orlando and booked into the Orange County Department of Corrections facility. On Thursday, December 17th, another suspect turned herself in, in Polk County. The last suspect has a warrant and is still at large.

The thefts and racketeering occurred as follows: Five of the suspects (boosters) would enter the different stores, and place dozens of cans of baby formula into bags. Oftentimes they would put baby diapers on top of the formula to further conceal it. On other occasions they stole energy drinks. They then passed all points of sale and loaded the stolen goods into a rental car. Each organized theft amounted to a range between $350-900 worth of stolen items. The suspects then immediately drove to one of the fencing locations, where they were given cash by the three other suspects (fences) who then resold the stolen items from their stores.

“This is an organized group of criminals working together to steal high-dollar items for their own personal profit, by stealing, and then selling the stolen goods on the black market. These suspects are committing felony racketeering and they belong in prison. Our detectives, FDLE, and the Statewide Prosecutors have done a great job with this investigation—working across many jurisdictions in Florida. Our message is simple: if it’s not yours, don’t take it. Don’t steal in Polk County and don’t steal in Florida. If you do, and we catch you, you will go to jail and then prison. Organized retail theft is a big problem in Florida costing retailers and consumers millions of dollars.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Here are a few specific examples of thefts committed by the suspects:

August 2019:

Aug 17: Rantevia Singleton and Beatrice Johnson, driving a rented Nissan, went into a Publix in Lutz, Florida, and filled their own reusable shopping bags with 11 cases of 5-hour energy shot drinks. They then asked a sales associate where the WIC-approved baby formula was located. They filled their reusable shopping bags with 24 cans of Enfamil baby formula, and placed a package of Pull-ups diapers on top. They left the store, passing all points of sale, with $551 worth of stolen items.

Aug 18: Adrian Givens and Beatrice Johnson, went into a Publix in New Port Richey, Florida, and loaded a shopping cart with 20 cans of Enfamil baby formula. They went into another aisle and put the formula into reusable shopping bags, then left the store, passing all points of sale. The value of the stolen items was $381.

Aug 18: Adrian Givens and Beatrice Johnson, went into a Publix in Trinity, Florida, and loaded a shopping cart with 19 cans of Enfamil baby formula. They went into another aisle and put the formula into reusable shopping bags, then left the store, passing all points of sale. The value of the stolen items was $371.
The same day, Givens and Johnson went back into the same Publix in Trinity, FL, and began placing baby formula into reusable shopping bags. They were confronted by the store manager, at which time they ran out of the store with the bags, stealing $754 worth of formula.

Aug 20: Givens and Johnson went into a Publix in Tampa, Florida. While Johnson loaded her shopping cart with baby formula, Givens stopped at the Customer Service desk and distracted the clerk while Johnson pushed the cart with the stolen goods outside. They fled with $956 worth of formula.

The following day, August 21st, the pair attempted to steal $792 worth of formula from a Publix in Riverview. When they realized they were being watched, they told the clerk they forgot their WIC card at home, so they left.

Later that day (August 21) Givens and Johnson went into a Winn Dixie in Valrico, and stole a cart full of baby formula valued at $778. Then they went into another Winn Dixie store in Riverview and stole $443 worth of baby formula.

Aug 23: Rantevia Singleton went into a Publix in St. Petersburg and stole $717 worth of baby formula by placing it into reusable shopping bags and leaving the store.

Aug 23: Givens and Johnson stole 35 cans of baby formula from a Winn Dixie in Plant City, worth $636.

Aug 29: Rantevia Singleton stole 64 cans of baby formula and two packages of Huggies diapers, from a Walmart in Brandon. The total loss was $2,985.

The pattern of thefts continued throughout the year and into 2020, often occurring several times in one day or one day after another during the week.

Click here to see video of the suspects in action.

Detectives continued their investigation and surveillance of where the stolen items were taken after the thefts. The fencing locations were identified as:

Ray’s Food Mart, 509 West Columbus Drive, Tampa
Ten Star Deli and Supermarket, 1202 East MLK Jr Blvd, Tampa

The following was observed:

February 2020:

Feb 5: Ahmed Hamdan, working at Ten Star Supermarket, went outside behind the store and together with Eshaud Suid, removed stolen product from the trunk of a car and put it into Suid’s car. Cash was exchanged with the driver of the first car, and the product was moved into the garage of Suid’s house in Lutz.

Feb 6: Hamdan and Suid removed a loaded garbage bag from a rental car at the Ten Star store.

Feb 12: Suid loaded black garbage bags from his Lutz home into his car, then drove to the Silver Dollar Food Store in Tampa. The bags were loaded into a van being driven by Abas Issa. Issa then went to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa for approximately one hour. When he left, he headed eastbound on I-4 and was observed swerving and unable to maintain a single lane. He was pulled over in Davenport by a PCSO deputy sheriff, and a search of his van revealed garbage bags filled with baby formula.

Feb 13: A Chevrolet Camaro occupied by three black females was backed into a spot next to Suid’s car behind Ten Star Supermarket. The women loaded black garbage bags filled with product into Suid’s car, then went inside the store.

The pattern of stolen goods being delivered to the different identified fencing locations continued throughout 2020. The boosters’ cell phone records and rental vehicles matched up with the transactions being conducted at the four different fencing locations. The investigation revealed that the fences paid the boosters $5.00 per stolen can of formula.

The following is an excerpt from the extremely detailed and lengthy Polk County affidavit:

In September of 2019, Rantevia Singleton deprived businesses within Polk County, Florida of merchandise valued at least $6,777.38. Rantevia Singleton was charged with 7 counts of Grand Theft $300-$5000 for the month of September, 2019.

In June of 2020, Rantevia Singleton deprived businesses within Polk County, Florida of at least $1675.77. Rantevia Singleton was charged with 2 counts of Grand Theft $750-$5000 for the month of June, 2020.

In September of 2019, Adrian Givens and Beatrice Johnson deprived businesses within Polk County, Florida of merchandise valued at least $944.27. Adrian Givens and Beatrice Johnson were both charged with 1 count of Grand Theft $300-$5000 for the month of September, 2019.

In September of 2019, Andrea Mack deprived businesses within Polk County, Florida of merchandise valued at least $719.30. Andrea Mack was charged with 1 count of Grand Theft $300-$5000 for the month of September, 2019.

Since the initial findings of theft and racketeering, PCSO detectives have been working with FDLE and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (Florida) to develop extensive evidence and documentation in 18 different counties. The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is prosecuting the case.

Those arrested (fences) for paying the boosters cash for the stolen goods are:

Eshaud Suid, DOB 04/12/89;
Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering (F1)
Racketeering Violation (F1)

Ahmed Hamdan, DOB 10/21/93;
Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering (F1)

Abas Issa, DOB 05/09/67;
Charges: Dealing in stolen property (F2)

Those arrested for committing the thefts (boosters) at the stores are:

Rantevia Singleton, DOB 10/09/94;
Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering (F1)
Racketeering Violation (F1)
9 counts Grand theft (F3)
Criminal History: Grand theft, petit theft, giving false info to LEO, DWLSR
**She told deputies she receives $504.00 per month in EBT benefits.

Adrian Givens, DOB 07/24/95;
Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering (F1)
Racketeering Violation (F1)
Grand theft (F3)
Criminal History: Grand theft, burglary, petit theft, trafficking in stolen property, retail theft, grand theft of motor vehicle, possession of anti-shoplifting device, giving false name to LEO, resisting arrest, obstruction, DWLSR

Ashley Anderson, DOB 02/13/96;
Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering (F1) 
Criminal History: Aggravated battery, battery, affray, disrupting a school function, petit theft, criminal mischief, resisting recovery of property
**She told deputies she receives $197.00 per month in food stamps, $130.00 Section 8 benefits, and Medicaid. 

Andrea Mack, DOB 09/08/95;
Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering (F1)
Grand theft (F3)
**She told deputies she receives $200.00 per month in food stamps, and Medicaid.

WANTED: Beatrice Johnson, DOB 07/22/91;
Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering (F1)
Racketeering Violation (F1)
Grand theft (F3)
Criminal History: Grand theft, petit theft, fraudulent use of personal ID, unlawful possession of another person’s ID, fraudulent use of credit card, giving false info to LEO, obstruction, resisting recovery of property

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (CW44 News At 10) – Ten people are now in the Polk County Jail, after Sheriff Grady Judd says they stole money from the Polk County CARES Act Fund, which is used to help residents struggling to pay rent, utilities and other housing costs because of the pandemic.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says nine of the ten people arrested on Thursday stole up to $18,000 in CARES Act money, and now they’re facing charges that include grand theft and obtaining property by fraud. Sheriff Judd stated firmly at a press conference, “Here’s what makes me angry about this. There are people, because there was a finite amount of money, there are people who needed the money the worst, that didn’t get the money because these people stole and created fraudulent acts.”

Credit: PCSO | CW44 News At 10

Sheriff Judd says an investigation into stolen money from the CARES Act began back in July of 2020. He says $53 million of the funds were set aside for residents in Polk County to apply for, but not everyone qualified for it. Sheriff Judd added, “We found a lot of people that had falsified documents.” To be eligible for the assistance, several criteria must be met, one of which is that applicants had to provide a letter from their employer which detailed how the employee lost their job or had their hours cut due to the pandemic. Those who qualified for assistance would then receive a one-time payment of $2,000.00.

ALSO: Six More Charged In Connection With A $2.7 Million PPP Fraud Scheme

Judd outlined in the Friday press conference that a manager of a McDonald’s in Polk County, Phyllis Tirado, started a chain of illegal activity. “Phyllis who is the General Manager, she liked [suspect] Ebony Chaney, felt sorry for her so she dummied up a letter so she could qualify for Polk CARES. Then that letter was duplicated through those that work at McDonald’s that were to receive the money illegally.”

Judd also described another group his officers also arrested who worked at a local Publix. “Took records and took a document, an HR document, off of a bulletin board and used Publix’s logo, Publix’s supervisor’s name.”

A total of nine people had each illegally received $2,000 in CARES Act money and Tirado, the manager who helped her McDonald’s employees get the money, is now charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and cheating. Judd added, “You’re stealing from the taxpayers. You’re stealing from the good-hearted people who made that money available for those who are really, really struggling.”

ALSO: Knock-Knock: Unattended 2-Year-Old Greets Officers Serving Civil Order On Homeowner

The Federal CARES Act was put into place to assist citizens who lost their jobs or had their hours significantly cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Polk County was allotted $126 Million dollars for the citizens of Polk County.  The BOCC took a portion of the money and created a Polk Cares website portal for people to apply online for a one-time payment of $2,000 to assist with rent/mortgage and bills while out of work or had hours cut.  Additionally, the program was expanded to also offer $2,000 for the senior population experiencing an increase in expenses due to COVID.

The Polk Cares website had the following criteria of eligibility:

• Applicant must be a resident of Polk County
• Applicant must submit a valid Florida DL or government-issued ID, and SSN
• Applicant must submit mortgage and/or utility statement
• Applicant must show a verifiable loss or reduction in income related to COVID-19, such as furlough, lay-off letter from employer, or underemployment statements
• Applicant must not have received other COVID-19 assistance for rent, mortgage, or utility payments.
• Limited to one per household

The ten suspects arrested were:
Brittany Capers, 27, of Lakeland– Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID (F3). Capers was receiving unemployment benefits at the time of her arrest.

Ebony Chaney, 34, of Lake Wales– Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Fraud (F2), Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), Cheating/Gross Fraud (F3). Chaney was receiving food stamps at the time of her arrest.

Ermanne Henry, 43, of Lakeland– Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID (F3).

Mervin Suttle, 36, of Bartow– Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID (F3). Suttle was receiving food stamps and unemployment at the time of his arrest.

Patricia Taylor, 38, of Lakeland– Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID (F3). She was employed as an LPN at a nursing home.

Phyllis Tirado, 49, of Lake Wales– Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Fraud (F2), Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), and Cheating/Gross Fraud (F3). Tirado did not receive any money, but provided a fraudulent document to an employee.

Takila McBurrows, 36, of Lake Wales– Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID (F3). McBurrows was receiving food stamps at the time of her arrest. She told deputies that she works as a para-educator.

Tashai Newman, 43, of Winter Haven– Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID (F3). Newman was receiving food stamps at the time of her arrest.

Derrick Dawsey, 50, of Lake Wales– Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID (F3).

Dominique Frasier, 36, of Lakeland– Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID (F3). Frasier was receiving food stamps at the time of her arrest. She was employed as a CNA at a nursing home.

CW44 News At 10 will provide further information as it is made available.

ALSO TRENDING ON CBS LOCAL:

• Super Bowl Experience Officially Open In Tampa

• Father, Son Pedestrians Struck And Killed In Clearwater Friday Night

• Stimulus Check Latest: Will The $1,400 Payment Survive Negotiations On The American Rescue Plan?

• COVID-19 Vaccine Locator Website Launches In Florida

• South Tampa Boy Arrested With Loaded Gun He Brought To School

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (CW44 News At 10) – Appointments are available for immediate booking for the expanded group of residents who now qualify to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Pinellas County.

Residents 65 and up as well as eligible health care workers of any age, and law enforcement, firefighters and K-12 school staff 50 and older, can now sign up for vaccine appointments here or by calling 844-770-8548.

CW44 News At 10

When logging in to the patient portal site, residents should select “no entry code” and then “Pinellas” from the drop-down menu.

OTHER KEY UPDATES:

First and second dose appointments can be scheduled directly – no more invitations are sent since all pre-registered 65+ users have previously received at least one direct notification to schedule.

Healthcare workers, sworn law enforcement officers, firefighters and school staff are required to show proof of employment. Sworn law enforcement officers, firefighters, school staff, and residents over 65 are required to show proof of age.

Eligible healthcare workers are any workers with direct contact with the public. Examples are physicians, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, phlebotomists, nurses, home health providers, home medical equipment providers, therapists, dental office staff, pharmacists, and administrative/reception staff, among other health care professionals.

Medically vulnerable residents under the age of 65 can schedule at pharmacies or go to new federal site with doctor’s certification.  At this time, county sites are not vaccinating this group.

Proof of eligibility is required and will be strictly enforced at the vaccination sites. The following documents will be accepted:

Organizational identification card
Medical license
Paystub showing employment
W-2 IRS form showing the employer
An employment verification letter on official letterhead

Local pharmacies, including Publix, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club are also offering vaccines to all the groups eligible under the expanded criteria from Florida’s Governor. Each pharmacy chain is offering their own appointment system. Check pharmacy websites for availability.

To date, more than 163,000 people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Pinellas County. In Pinellas, more than 50 percent of the senior population has received a vaccine.

MEDICALLY VULNERABLE:

Anyone with a “COVID-19 Determination of Extreme Vulnerability” form signed by their doctor may now schedule an appointment at Publix or other participating pharmacies. In addition, they may visit the federal vaccination site at the Tampa Greyhound Track, 755 E. Waters Ave., Tampa.

MORE INFO

The latest information about vaccine availability in Pinellas County can be found here.

(CNN) — Two people were shot and killed inside a Publix in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office. The shooter is also deceased, PBSO said.

Two people were shot and killed inside a Publix in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office. The shooter is also deceased PBSO said.

In a tweet Thursday, the sheriff’s office said deputies arrived at the scene to find three people dead from gunshot wounds, including a man, a woman and a child. Police did not say which one was believed responsible for the shooting.

“This was NOT an active shooter situation,” the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives from the agency’s violent crimes division are on the scene investigating, the office said in a statement. “Detectives are in the beginning stages of determining what led up to the shooting.”

Publix confirmed the shooting in a statement Thursday, saying, “Our thoughts are with those who are impacted by this tragedy.”

The company said it was cooperating with law enforcement but declined to offer additional details, citing the active investigation.

The-CNN-Wire & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

(CNN) — The gunman who opened fire in a Florida grocery store Thursday first fired one shot that killed a 1-year-old boy before struggling with the boy’s 69-year-old grandmother and then fatally shooting her, authorities said.

The shooter, identified as 55-year-old Timothy J. Wall, then killed himself, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

ROYAL PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – JUNE 10: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s officers stand outside of a Publix supermarket where a woman, child and a man were found shot to death on June 10, 2021 in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the crime scene for clues as to why the shooting occurred. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The motive in the shooting remains unknown. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has said there is no known relationship between the shooter and the victims, who will remain unidentified after their families invoked Marsy’s Law.

Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw indicated in a news conference Friday that Wall had expressed on social media a desire to “kill people and children.”

Sheriff Maj. Talal Masri said authorities received the first call about shots fired at 11:35 a.m. By the time they arrived at the Publix Supermarket in Royal Palm Beach, they found both victims and the shooter dead.

Based on a review of video from inside the store, Masri said investigators determined the victims had arrived at 11:07 a.m.

Wall entered the store at 11:29 a.m., Masri said, carrying a golf putter like a walking stick. At 11:30 a.m., the grandmother and her grandson entered the produce section. Wall followed a minute later and was looking toward the victims, Masri said.

At 11:34 a.m., Masri said, Wall approached the victims, pulled out his gun and fired a single round, killing the child in the shopping cart. A struggle ensued between Wall and the grandmother, who was eventually thrown to the ground. Wall then shot her, too, Masri said.

Wall then killed himself.

The investigation remains ongoing, Masri said. Detectives have so far interviewed more than 30 people who were inside the store who either saw or heard the shooting happen.

Bradshaw said he was “angry” no one had reported Wall’s Facebook activity prior to the shooting. CNN cannot corroborate Bradshaw’s assertions.

“The real sad part of this, other than the fact that two people are dead, is that there was a chance that this could be stopped,” Bradshaw said.

If someone had notified authorities, Florida’s red flag law might have allowed authorities to take away Wall’s firearm, Bradshaw said. He later added authorities are still investigating who the gun was registered to and how Wall obtained it.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay issued a statement asking for thoughts and prayers for the victims’ family and painted the shooting as yet another example of the scourge of American gun violence.

“We’ve become too numb to gun violence,” McKinlay said on Twitter.

“Tomorrow we must step up and engage in a very honest conversation about why this happened and what we can do specifically to prevent this violence,” she said. “Inaction is not an option.”

A spokesperson for Publix told reporters Friday the store had been disinfected and rearranged.

“We discarded any product that was impacted and we also redesigned the layout of our store,” said Maria Brous, Publix Supermarkets director of communications.

The employees impacted are being offered grief counseling, Brous said. The store will reopen at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Brous told CNN.

The-CNN-Wire & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

ATLANTA, Ga. (CW69 News at 10/CNN) — Retailers around Georgia are re-evaluating their mask policies after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated guidance Tuesday to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas with high transmission of COVID-19, which includes nearly two-thirds of all U.S. counties.

The CDC’s new guidance was in response to the rising spread of the new, highly transmissible Delta variant and low vaccination rates.

Mask rules for customers have been a contentious issue throughout the pandemic and workers in stores and restaurants have often been thrust into the role of carrying out their employers’ mask rules, sometimes with violent consequences. Last month, a customer killed a clerk at Big Bear Supermarket in Decatur in a dispute over face masks.

A Walmart spokesperson said Wednesday that the company has followed CDC guidance throughout the pandemic. “This one is a little more complicated due to county-by-county discretion but expect to hear more from us soon.”

Soon turned out to be Friday when Walmart announced that employees are required to wear masks inside again, regardless of vaccination status, in places with “substantial or high transmission.” The new policy is effective immediately.  Atlanta is considered by the CDC to be in the at risk zone.

Vaccinated people in high community transmission areas – communities with high COVID-19 infection rates – should wear masks indoors. https://t.co/SmSjffgCk6

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 30, 2021

Maria Brous, a spokesperson for Publix, said the company was “reviewing the updated CDC guidance” and would provide updates regarding our policies as appropriate.”

Walmart, Publix and most large retailers had removed face covering requirements for vaccinated shoppers in their stores in May, following CDC guidance at the time easing mask-wearing for people vaccinated against COVID-19.

Groups representing companies and workers immediately came out on opposite sides on the latest CDC update, underscoring a divide in the industry over mask rules and how to implement them.

The National Retail Federation, a trade association for retailers, said in a statement Tuesday that “it is truly unfortunate that mask recommendations have returned when the surest known way to reduce the threat of the virus is widespread vaccination.”

But Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers, a union representing 1.3 million food and retail workers, said in a statement that the guidance was “a critical step that sounds the alarm about the explosion in [COVID-19] cases and makes clear that wearing masks indoors is critical to stopping the spread of this deadly virus.”

Perrone added that the CDC recommendation “does not go far enough” and called for a national mask mandate to slow the spread of the virus.

The CDC emphasized Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccinations are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. The CDC also noted that the highest spread of COVID-19 cases and severe outcomes is happening in areas with low vaccination rates and among unvaccinated people.

Currently, only 49.2% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the CDC.

Major retailers have not required their store workers to get vaccinated. Instead, they are offering paid time off, free transportation to vaccination sites and incentives like bonuses to encourage workers to get vaccinated, Mary McGinty, a spokesperson for the National Retail Federation, said in an email.

Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia Business School and the former chief executive of Sears Canada, said that retailers were hesitant to require workers to get vaccinated out of fear some may quit or that such a requirement would alienate customers.

©2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. CNN contributed to the story.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (CW44 News At 10) – Nathaniel O. Cox, 30, was found guilty by a federal jury on Thursday of Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a Kel-Tec SUB-2000 assault rifle during the commission of a crime of violence, announced Acting United States Attorney Jason R. Coody.  Cox was previously convicted of a similar crime in the Middle District of Georgia in 2015; for which he was sentenced to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, having been released in May 2020.

Trial evidence revealed that on the evening of October 22, 2020, Cox entered the Publix supermarket located at 5998 Mobile Highway in Pensacola, Florida, where he confronted a store manager and another employee, warning that he was armed and there to rob the store. Cox then instructed them to take him to the money room. Once inside, Cox brandished his semi-automatic rifle and instructed the two employees, along with a third employee who was inside the room, to gather the money and place it in his backpack. The employees were then ordered to lay on top of each other and to count out loud or they would be shot. Cox then fled the supermarket with the stolen United States currency. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was the first to respond to and investigate the crime scene. Working in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, law enforcement officers were able to locate Cox at the international airport in Jacksonville, Florida, after he fled Pensacola, where he was taken into custody without incident. Law enforcement also recovered the assault rifle used to commit the robbery.

“The investigation and prosecution of violence crime – in this case by an armed repeat offender – is central to our mission to protect the public,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “As a result of the collaboration and outstanding investigative work of our law enforcement partners at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, this violent, armed robber has been adjudicated guilty and will be sentenced for his criminal conduct.”

“A priority for ATF is reducing violent crime and protecting the public. Through collaborative efforts with our local law enforcement partner’s, we were able to capture this dangerous felon and prevent him from any further threats to our communities. This prosecution demonstrates that working jointly with our local partners makes the communities safer,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig W. Saier.

“We are pleased that our working relationship with our federal partners led to the arrest and conviction of Mr. Cox. This is another example of local law enforcement and federal agencies coming together to serve and protect our community,” said Escambia County Chief Deputy Tommi Lyter

This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

Cox’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 21, 2021, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before the Honorable United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Due to a prior federal violent crime conviction, Cox faces a mandatory minimum 25 years’ imprisonment on the charges.

TAMPA, Fla. (CW44 News At 10) – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Robert Timon Lovett (50, Bradenton) to five years in federal prison for arson.

Lovett had pleaded guilty on September 29, 2021.

According to court documents, on three consecutive dates in 2020 (December 25, 26, and 27), Lovett started a fire at a Publix store in Bradenton, Florida.  On December 26 and 27, Lovett actually entered the store and purchased the lighter fluid he used to start the fires, both of which he set while the store was open for business. The fire he set on December 26 caused significant heat damage to the back of the store.

Law enforcement officers apprehended Lovett on December 28, 2020, when he returned to the same Publix and again purchased lighter fluid. In a statement to law enforcement, Lovett admitted to starting the fires on each of the three preceding days.