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Pickle-Tossing Belt-Wielder Busted In Food Max: Deputies

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 12, 2009

Santos Garcia-Ponce

The man walked into Food Max Wednesday evening with a lottery ticket in hand, demanding $30.

The clerk looked at it and refused his request because the ticket had already been redeemed.

That's when things went sour.

Santos Garcia-Ponce, 46, according to deputies, grabbed a jar of pickles and threw it at the clerk. Then he snagged a belt off a nearby display rack and started swinging it at the clerk, a sheriff's office report states.

Garcia-Ponce didn't stop there, according to authorities. He swiped a bunch of lottery tickets from that display, a report states, and then tried to open the cash register but the clerk had locked it so he started chasing the clerk.

At some point the clerk had called 911 and when a deputy arrived at the store at 37006 Lock Street, he saw a belt and pickle jar on the floor and Garcia-Ponce walking out from behind the counter.

"I want my money," Garcia-Ponce reportedly said.

While trying to take the man into custody, Garcia-Ponce punched the deputy in the face, the report states.

Garcia-Ponce, of 15215 Byron Street, was arrested on charges of robbery and battery on a law enforcement officer.

He's being held at the Land O' Lakes Jail with bail set at $15,000.

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