Florida Senior Citizen Accused of Armed Threat Against Walmart Employee
A 79-year-old Florida man has been arrested and charged with armed assault after allegedly pulling a gun on a Walmart worker he believed had a "bad attitude." The incident, which unfolded in the jewelry section of a Hialeah store, has shocked local authorities and raised concerns about retail safety.
Confrontation Over Store Policy Escalates to Firearm Threat
According to court records and police reports, Pascual Santana, born in May 1946, entered the Walmart located at 5851 NW 177 St in Hialeah on November 16 last year. Santana, who was using a mobility scooter, approached the jewelry counter around 10:50 a.m. and requested to view multiple pieces of jewelry simultaneously.
The employee informed Santana that store policy permitted only one item to be examined at a time. This explanation reportedly angered Santana, who felt the worker was not providing adequate service. A Miami-Dade County sheriff's deputy documented that Santana "became upset" and "began to speak aggressively to the victim, and began to call her derogatory names."
The worker repeatedly attempted to clarify the store's policy, but Santana allegedly refused to comply. He told her she had a bad attitude and needed to correct it, according to the arrest record.
"Are You Scared Now?" Gun Revealed in Waistband
The situation escalated dramatically when Santana allegedly opened his shirt to reveal a handgun tucked into his waistband. He then posed the chilling question: "Are you scared now?" to the terrified employee.
The victim, genuinely frightened by the threat, immediately fled the area to seek assistance from store security personnel. The incident was captured on surveillance footage, which later became crucial evidence in the investigation.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Several months after the confrontation, deputies arrested Santana based on the evidence collected. Interestingly, Santana reportedly claimed that the individual seen in the surveillance video was another armed 79-year-old man, not himself.
Santana has pleaded not guilty to the charge of armed assault and has formally requested a trial by jury. Court documents indicate that he applied for and was granted "indigent status," resulting in the assignment of a public defender to his case.
Currently, Santana remains in jail with a bond set at $5,000. No court dates have been scheduled yet for his trial proceedings.
During police interviews, Santana terminated the questioning after just a few minutes and requested legal representation, according to Miami-Dade County records.
This disturbing case highlights the potential for routine customer service interactions to escalate into dangerous situations, particularly when firearms are involved. Retail workers across Florida are expressing renewed concerns about their safety following this alarming incident at a major chain store.
