A trip to the customer service desk ended in a jail cell for a Florida woman after she allegedly attacked a 79-year-old shopper over a shopping cart dispute. Keri Estep, 34, was arrested on March 11 and charged with battery on a person 65 years or older following the January 23 incident at the Walmart on University Drive in Sunrise.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the confrontation began while the two women were waiting in line. The victim told investigators that Estep started yelling at her and then cut in front of her. When the older woman tried to address the behavior, the situation turned physical.
The affidavit states that Estep pushed the victim and struck her in the chest with what was described as a punch.
Walmart security guards intervened to break up the scuffle, but the affidavit notes that Estep allegedly managed to kick the 79-year-old in the hip while guards were attempting to separate them. Although the victim did not suffer physical injuries, she told police she wanted to press charges.
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Security personnel told responding officers that Estep was upset because she believed the older woman had hit her shopping cart, which had a baby inside. The victim denied ever touching the cart.
Estep left the store before police arrived, but investigators used surveillance footage to identify and track her down over a month later.
During an interview with police, Estep admitted to the verbal argument, claiming the victim had “shook the cart” and was acting aggressively toward her and the infant. However, officers noted in the report that the CCTV footage did not show any such aggression from the victim.
Upon reviewing the video evidence with the police, Estep reportedly admitted that her perception of what happened was wrong and apologized for her behavior. Records show Estep was booked into the Broward County Jail and has since been released after posting a $2,500 bond.
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