FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Arrest warrants have been issued for two people after a theft and crash involving a pedestrian at Walmart, the Fernandina Beach Police Department told News4Jax on Monday.
Police said arrest warrants were issued for Erica Felder, 26, of Jacksonville. The first warrant is on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and the second is on a charge of leaving the scene, police said. The bond amount total is more than $65,000.
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Officers said an arrest warrant was also issued for Shawnelle Maurice Pitts Jr., 24, of Jacksonville. According to police, the warrant charges Pitts with robbery by sudden snatching and carries a bond of more than $25,000.
The suspected theft took place about 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Walmart store on Amelia Plaza, right before the pedestrian was struck by a car, according to the Police Department.
Police said surveillance video showed a woman exiting the store, getting into a silver Mercedes-Benz sedan and parking it in a handicap spot. The video also showed the woman placing a bag over the vehicle's license plate, police said.
Several minutes later, according to police, the video showed a man bypassing the cash registers with several different items. As he attempted to leave the store, he was approached by a Walmart employee who asked for a receipt, police said.
The man produced a Walmart receipt for 96 cents from the River City Walmart, police said. At that point, another employee attempted to stop the man, who then rammed a cart into that employee. The employee was reportedly shaken up, but not hurt.
Police said the man then ran out of the store, almost knocking over a customer, and jumped into the Mercedes-Benz driven by the woman.
A 58-year-old pedestrian witnessed the commotion as he stood in the crosswalk. According to the police report, the pedestrian tried to get out of the way, but the car sped toward him, striking him and causing him to fall to the ground. The 58-year-old man was taken to a hospital for treatment but was reported to be doing well.
Police said they have already received several tips in the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Tina Smith at 904-310-3216.