A Florida woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing from a Dollar General store and attacking a pregnant employee, authorities in the Sunshine State revealed.
Maria Gritsaev, 34, is facing charges of aggravated battery on a pregnant victim and petit theft, according to records from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Jail.
The incident happened earlier this month, on January 2, at a Dollar General located on Market Avenue in Palm Coast, a city about 30 miles north of Daytona Beach. Deputies say the situation escalated around 10:30 a.m. when Gritsaev reportedly tried to leave the store without paying for a $2 lighter.
A store employee, who is eight months pregnant, told police she tried to stop Gritsaev from walking out with the lighter. According to the charging affidavit, the employee stepped in front of the suspect, but things quickly turned physical. Gritsaev allegedly grabbed and pushed the pregnant worker before leaving the store.
Law enforcement shared details with the public to help track down the suspect. They described the woman as white, appearing to be in her late 40s, wearing a light-colored hat and scarf, and possibly donning a wig of long blonde hair. She was last seen riding away on a silver mountain bike. A blurry photo of the suspect was posted on social media, and, surprisingly, it worked. A sharp-eyed social media user spotted the suspect and tipped off authorities.
The sheriff’s office later praised the community’s involvement on Instagram, saying it proves even poor-quality photos can lead to arrests with public help.
When questioned, Gritsaev admitted being at the store but denied stealing or pushing anyone. She claimed she paid for the lighter and left the store after maneuvering around the employee to avoid a confrontation.
Gritsaev is now being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility with her bond set at $6,000. Meanwhile, authorities continue their investigation into the incident.
