A Leesburg woman was arrested after allegedly swiping a man’s money off the counter at a vape shop and fleeing to an apartment building.
An officer responded to a call for service regarding a battery at Tanglewood Apartments, located at 2006 High St., around 11:52 a.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officer met with the male victim who advised that 21-year-old Jasmine Tynise Gainey stole his money from the Leesburg Vape Shop, located at 107 S. 14th St. He was making a purchase at the store and had his money laid out on the counter while counting it. Gainey was having trouble with her phone when she tried to use the tap-to-pay feature, the report said.
Gainey then snatched the victim’s $50 in cash off the counter and ran out of the store. The victim got on his bicycle and followed her to Tanglewood Apartments. She gave his money back as the officer arrived on scene, the report said.
The officer then spoke with Gainey. When asked if what the victim stated was true, she nodded her head and said yes. The officer tried to detain her, to which she fled on foot. While chasing after her, the officer told her to stop or be tased. She then immediately stopped running and was detained, the report said.
Gainey was read her rights and asked if she understood them, but she remained silent. The officer asked her if she would like to answer his questions at that time, and she was still quiet, the report said.
Another officer responded to the Leesburg Vape Shop where he met with an independent witness. He stated he saw Gainey grab the victim’s money while he counted it. He also saw Gainey running out of the store as the victim yelled at her to stop, the report said.
Gainey was ultimately arrested on charges of petit theft (second degree misdemeanor) and resisting (obstructing without violence). She was transported to Lake County Jail, and due to being out on bond for similar charges, her bond was set at $43,500.
She was also arrested in May 2022 as one of two McDonald’s employees caught brawling behind the counter and in Dec. 2024 for a violent confrontation with a customer at a Wendy’s drive-thru.