A California woman is facing charges in Florida after allegedly throwing an unopened can of Pepsi into a vehicle, striking a 3-year-old child, following a violent confrontation at a Polk City, Florida, gas station in February.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) began its investigation on February 8th after receiving a report of the incident.
According to detectives, the female suspect became agitated with another customer at the gas station. While the victim was seated in his vehicle, the suspect allegedly threw the soda can, which struck his 3-year-old child on the head. Fortunately, the child was not injured.
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Following the can throwing, the suspect reportedly began hitting the victim’s vehicle with her fists and feet before fleeing the scene in a blue Hyundai Elantra.
PCSO detectives identified the suspect as 35-year-old Crystal Lee Hess of California. However, her location remained unknown for several weeks.
A break in the case came on February 18th when Hess was involved in a hit-and-run traffic crash in South Carolina. South Carolina State Trooper North subsequently arrested her.
Trooper North recognized a potential match and contacted a PCSO detective to inform them of the arrest.
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After being apprehended in South Carolina, Crystal Lee Hess was transported back to Florida. On April 26th, she was booked into the Polk County Jail.
She now faces charges of Throwing a Deadly Missile into an Occupied Vehicle and Criminal Mischief in connection with the Polk City incident.
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