HIALEAH, FL – A 79-year-old Florida man faces armed assault charges after allegedly pulling a gun on a Walmart jewelry counter employee during a dispute over store policy, according to Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s deputies.
Pascual Santana was arrested Friday and charged with armed assault following the November 16 incident at a Walmart location on NW 177th Street. Court records show Santana threatened the female employee from his mobility scooter after becoming upset about jewelry viewing policies.
According to the arrest report, Santana entered the store around 10:50 a.m. and requested to view multiple pieces of jewelry simultaneously. When the employee explained store policy only allowed customers to view one item at a time, Santana became increasingly agitated.
Deputies said Santana “began to speak aggressively” to the worker and “called her derogatory names” while insisting she had a “bad attitude.” The situation escalated when Santana allegedly opened his shirt to reveal a handgun in his waistband and asked the employee, “Are you scared now?”
The frightened worker immediately fled to seek help from store security. Surveillance footage later captured the incident, leading to Santana’s arrest several months later.
When questioned by police, Santana terminated the interview after a few minutes and requested an attorney. He has since pleaded not guilty to the armed assault charge and demanded a trial by jury.
Court records indicate Santana applied for and received indigent status, qualifying him for a court-appointed public defender. He initially claimed the person seen threatening the worker in security footage was not him, despite the clear evidence.
Santana remains in Miami-Dade County jail on $5,000 bond. No court dates have been scheduled yet for his case.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about workplace safety for retail employees, particularly those working alone in jewelry and electronics sections where disputes over policies can escalate quickly.
