A 61-year-old Florida woman faces a hate crime charge after authorities say she intentionally left pork products on the ground outside a Muslim-owned grocery store.
Christine Fernandez was arrested on June 22 and officially charged two days later with harassment or intimidation based on religious or ethnic heritage. According to Port St. Lucie Police Department spokesman Lt. Joe Norkus, the charge is classified as a hate crime under Florida law.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 30 outside a store specializing in Middle Eastern groceries, which is owned by Hiba Sharef. Surveillance footage from the establishment allegedly captured Fernandez placing pork products on the sidewalk near the entrance. Dietary laws in Islam strictly forbid the consumption of pork.
Fernandez was later identified with the help of employees at a nearby restaurant. After reviewing their own security footage, staff recognized Fernandez as the girlfriend of one of their regular customers.
According to an arrest affidavit, Fernandez admitted to the act when contacted by police but denied having malicious intentions. She told investigators that she was participating in a “bet regarding who would place bacon bits in front of a store.” Because she viewed the act as a prank, she stated it did not warrant an apology to the business owners.
“It was a joke. Drop it there. And that’s exactly what I did,” Fernandez allegedly said, according to the affidavit. “Was it poor taste? Yeah. Was it funny? Maybe not to them. It’s just bacon.”
However, law enforcement officials rejected the explanation that the incident was a harmless prank. The arrest affidavit asserts that Fernandez “knowingly selected a business she perceived to be associated with Islam or Middle Eastern culture and intentionally deposited pork products at that location because of that perceived association.” The document added that her actions were “purposeful, targeted, and directed solely toward the victims’ business.”
Following her arrest, Fernandez was booked into the local jail. She has since been released after posting a $750 bond.
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