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Florida
Florida McDonald's worker assaults teen over dipping sauce from behind counter: affidavit
A teenage girl was assaulted by a McDonald’s employee after she attempted to get a dipping sauce from behind the counter after no one reportedly offered her service, according to court documents.
According to an affidavit reviewed and obtained by Fox News Digital, Akeena Sampson, 31, was working at a St. Petersburg McDonald’s on April 4, when she “knowlingly or willfully” abused a child.
Just after 2:15 p.m., the report states, a 17-year-old girl walked behind the counter at the restaurant to grab a ranch after reportedly not being helped by employees.
The mayhem unfolded after the teen was walking back into the lobby area when Sampson rushed over to the girl and grabbed her arm, the affidavit reads.
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The McDonald’s logo at a restaurant location in Indianapolis (iStock)
The victim then tried to free herself from Sampson, who grabbed the victim by the neck, and began to choke her before taking her down to the ground.
Sampson then continued to choke the victim while on the ground, according to the report.
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A view shows a McDonald’s sign in New York City on October 4, 2024. (REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado)
St. Petersburg police noted that the victim had visible injuries to her neck and left elbow.
Police also reviewed footage, which reportedly captured the entire altercation.
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St. Petersburg police said the victim had visible injuries to her neck and left elbow after a McDonald’s worker attacked her over a dipping sauce dispute. (St. Petersburg Police Department Facebook)
Sampson was arrested on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.
Pinellas County records show Sampson was being held on a $2,500 bond, but has since bonded out.
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She was also ordered to stay away from her workplace and have no contact with the victim.
Fox News Digital reached out to McDonald’s for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
Florida
Rainy stretch continues in South Florida
South Florida is experiencing a prolonged stretch of wet weather as deep tropical moisture combines with a stalled frontal boundary across the region.
The result has been frequent showers, thunderstorms, periods of heavy rainfall, and localized flooding concerns from Broward to Miami-Dade and throughout the Keys.
The atmosphere is loaded with moisture, allowing storms to produce intense downpours in a short amount of time.
Some neighborhoods have already seen several inches of rain, with additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected through the end of the week.
Flood-prone streets and poor drainage areas remain especially vulnerable during the heaviest rainfall.
While the rain is helping ease drought conditions, it is also increasing the risk of flash flooding and travel delays.
South Florida is two weeks into its rainy season, when abundant heat and humidity combine to generate daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms.
Heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, and gusty winds are common features of this time of year.
The good news? Drier air will gradually filter into parts of the region heading into the weekend, allowing rain chances to slightly decrease. Until then, keep the umbrella handy and be prepared for sudden tropical downpours.
Florida
Man accused of kidnapping woman at Wawa in Central Florida
NEWS
A man is in custody after deputies said he tried to kidnap a woman at a Wawa near Winter park. Per investigators, Matthew Seaberg approached the victim from behind, picked her up by the waist, and threw her into his truck.
Florida
Jury selection continues in fatal boat crash trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino
MIAMI — A new group of prospective jurors was questioned Tuesday in the trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino, who is charged in connection with a 2022 boat crash that killed a teenager in Miami-Dade County.
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During jury selection in a Miami-Dade courtroom, Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez asked potential jurors what they already knew about the case and whether they had recently seen or heard anything about it.
Several prospective jurors said they knew only basic details, including that a fatal boating crash occurred and that a teenage girl died. Others said they recalled media reports that alcohol may have been involved.
As questioning continued, some prospective jurors disclosed connections to schools and communities tied to the case.
Passengers aboard Pino’s boat included his wife, his teenage daughter and 11 of her friends, many of whom attended private schools in Miami-Dade County.
One prospective juror said they graduated from a local private school around the time of the crash and were familiar with some of the students involved.
Another said references to schools and witnesses brought back memories of seeing posts and articles about the incident shared on social media.
A third said their child participates in youth sports with students from schools connected to the case.
Investigators said the boat struck a channel marker while returning from an outing on Biscayne Bay. Seventeen-year-old Lourdes Academy student Lucy Fernandez drowned after the crash.
Tinkler Mendez also addressed concerns that a prospective juror had been viewing a news report about the case on a cellphone while waiting outside the courtroom.
Another prospective juror reported hearing the report but said it was not loud enough for everyone in the area to hear.
Tinkler Mendez reminded prospective jurors to avoid news coverage and social media discussions related to the case as jury selection continues.
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