Man in Drug Court diversion program arrested for stealing $375 in snow crab clusters from Publix
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sam Eric Haywood, Jr., 36, was arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing $375 in snow crab clusters from Publix; he was in a Drug Court treatment program for three previous theft cases.
The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that at about 1:23 p.m. on July 19, Haywood went to the Publix at NW 13th Street and NW 39th Avenue and asked for snow crab clusters valued at $374.44. Haywood reportedly placed the items in a cart and walked around the store; a store manager reportedly followed Haywood and saw him leave the cart in the store and walk out. The manager said that Haywood got into a vehicle and then got back out and walked back into the store.
Haywood reportedly found that the snow crab clusters had been returned to the seafood counter, and he reportedly became “belligerent” with the seafood manager, demanding the snow crab clusters. The manager gave the snow crab clusters back to Haywood, who allegedly went to self-checkout, rang up three items worth $10, and pushed the cart with the crab clusters out of the store.
The manager went to the self-checkout register and printed out the receipt, noting that Haywood had not paid for the snow crab clusters.
The vehicle was reportedly found in the 300 block of SE 26th Terrace, and Haywood was reportedly found hiding in the attic of a home, where he was arrested for petit theft and three active warrants.
Haywood has been charged with petit theft with two or more previous convictions, a felony. He has three felony convictions (non-violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (two violent). In December 2024, he entered a plea of nolo contendere in three petit theft cases and one grand theft case, charges with a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison; Judge Denise Ferrero ordered him released to Drug Court for treatment services in a post-plea diversion program, with the condition that if he failed to abide by the conditions of the program, he would be adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison (charges in one case were dropped as part of the plea deal).
On June 25, a court officer recommended that Haywood be removed from the Drug Court program for failing to appear in court three times and for violating the law on May 12, when he allegedly took small appliances worth $598 from Walmart.
Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $25,000 for the Publix case and $50,000 for the Walmart case; Haywood will be held without bond on the other three cases until those are resolved.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Jameis Winston wannabe
Jameis paid with a discount on his crab legs
So entitled….
Oh FFS. Back to prison.
You ever notice how few first time offenders are arrested?
Shoplifting is what causes “food deserts.” That’s why grocers closed in District 1, and 3 Winn Dixies, FoodLions, that used to be in town.
But the commies with the ACLUSPLCDNC say some peeps deserve gov’t grocery stores now… with self checkout?
💩👹👿👺🤡
When Terrel got 2 eat – he gone eat
Agreed. I’d also add that the profit margin in stores is quite slim. They rely on volume and repeat traffic.
We could all see this one coming from a mile away. Kudos to the Publix manager who ‘knows what time it is’.
During COVID, the City Commissioners raised petty theft from $300 to $700 in order to give thieves a break. I wonder how many “petty” thefts go unreported? Petty theft is paid for by us.
Just think how many times he’s stolen and gotten away with it. Most likely thousand upon thousands of dollars worth of goods.
Expensive taste. Now the best thing he’s going to eat is chicken leg and thigh every Tuesday for the next 18 months. He’ll probably trade that for paper dope.
No, he’s in alachua County. They slap his little hand again. Tell him not to do it to behave yourself and send him back home. That’s what you get from a Democratic run. County don’t believe it. Look at California any major city LA.
He maxed out the EBT – cut him some slack (sic).
Annoying as a case of the crabs i guess.
I always thought they should have point of sale at that counter. Along with the deli. Pharmacy will often hand over meds without transaction as well. Seems like a system easily manipulated by unscrupulous persons.
Boy, he sure loves crab cakes!
Wouldn’t the solicitation of a hooker have been cheaper?
Just asking for a friend.
Mannn, I wouldn’t have even gotten a bond if I was dumb enough to do even 1 of the thing’s he’s charged with let alone chance after chance after chance!! I already know it’s cause I’m Caucasian instead of Asian but still wtf?!?!?
That’s it, that’s the ticket: if you can’t afford it, steal it. That seems to be the motto of the tribe.