Peter Owens, a 35-year-old Florida man, was arrested on Easter Sunday after allegedly assaulting a Walgreens store manager with a Bible.
The incident, which occurred at the Walgreens location on Poinsettia Avenue, led to Owens being charged with felony battery.
Florida Man Arrested After Assaulting Walgreens Manager with Bible
According to an arrest affidavit from the Clearwater Police Department, the altercation unfolded around 11:30 p.m. when Owens entered the store to purchase a pair of headphones.
A verbal dispute erupted between Owens and a store employee over the merchandise, escalating when Nicole Merck, the store manager intervened.
Owens reportedly struck the manager in the face with the Bible when she asked him to leave the premises.
Officer Ryan Wall, in the affidavit, stated that Owens admitted to hitting the manager, claiming she was rude to him.
Owens, who has a prior conviction for battery in Michigan from 2020, was located and taken into custody shortly after the incident. He was released from the Pinellas County Jail after posting a $5,000 bond.
Repeat Offender: Florida Man Arrested Again for Theft at Walmart After Release
However, less than 24 hours after his release, Owens found himself in trouble with the law again.
He was arrested by the Tarpon Springs Police Department for allegedly stealing men's shoes and a box of Cheez-Its from a Walmart store on US-19.
The affidavit stated that Owens took a box of Cheez-Its into the store's bathroom, along with selecting a pair of shoes and removing their tags.
After trying on the shoes and placing them in a duffle bag, he left the store without paying, bypassing all checkout points, Fox 35 reported.
Owens, who was charged for petit theft, is currently being held in Pinellas County Jail again on a $150 bond.
Join the Conversation