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A Publix employee in Florida found themselves unexpectedly involved in a bizarre incident when a man mistakenly targeted their vehicle with a hammer, believing it belonged to his former partner, as reported by Volusia County deputies.
In Ormond-by-the-Sea, Fla., authorities arrested a man after he vandalized a car in a Publix parking lot. The man, identified as 37-year-old Justin Allen, wrongly assumed the vehicle was owned by his ex-girlfriend.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office detailed the arrest of Allen after he was caught in the act of attacking an SUV with a hammer by a responding deputy.
Footage from the deputy’s body camera, released by the sheriff’s office, captures the tense moment. It shows the deputy approaching the scene with a drawn weapon, as a car alarm echoes through the parking lot. The SUV’s windows are shattered, and the suspect complies with the deputy’s command to drop the hammer and exit the vehicle.
Upon questioning, the suspect claimed that he believed the car belonged to his ex-girlfriend, whom he accused of stealing from him.
Police say the vehicle actually belonged to an innocent Publix employee.
In the video, deputies can be heard saying Allen had been pointing at every white SUV that passed by, believing they belonged to his ex. “All of them have been different makes and models,” one deputy said. They then tell each other that they believe he is on drugs.
Allen has been charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief over $1K, possession of cocaine and paraphernalia.
Allen posted $10,500 bond and was released later that night.