Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jamal Pablo Abramson, 47, was arrested last night after allegedly stealing multiple items from the cafeteria at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and threatening the juvenile cashier.

At about 7:45 p.m. on August 10, Abramson allegedly took two salads and a sparkling water from the refrigerator in the hospital cafeteria and asked the 16-year-old cashier for a bag; the cashier asked him if he was going to pay for the salads, and Abramson reportedly said his sister worked there. The cashier reportedly tried to verify that Abramson’s sister worked there, and the arrest report states that Abramson’s sister told the cashier not to give food to anyone in her name. Abramson allegedly left with the food and drink without paying.

At about 9 p.m., Abramson allegedly went back to the cafeteria, took a package of Skittles from the counter, and confronted the cashier about checking with his sister. The cashier reportedly told Abramson to leave and said he was just doing his job, and Abramson allegedly reached into the back of his waistband and said the job wouldn’t pay for his life. The cashier believed Abramson was reaching for a weapon and withdrew.

Gainesville Police Department officers reportedly found Abramson a few blocks away and reported that he did not have any weapons in his possession at the time of his arrest.

Abramson reportedly made a spontaneous statement while speaking with officers that the cashier was a “dead man walking” for calling the police.

Post Miranda, Abramson reportedly admitted to taking a salad and asking the cashier for a bag and said his sister works in the hospital kitchen. He later reportedly said the charges would be dropped because he stole Skittles, not salad.

Abramson has been charged with unarmed robbery and petit theft. He has one felony conviction (violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he was arrested on July 11 for allegedly causing a disturbance in the middle of a street in Linton Oaks while intoxicated, threatening to shoot and kill everyone in the area, and was released on his own recognizance. He was also arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia on June 1 after a woman called and said he had threatened to shoot her, but the charge was later dropped. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $55,000 on the new charges and ordered a mental health evaluation.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.