POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A knife-wielding woman from Colombia sparked panic at a Dollar General store in Polk County, though she was eventually stopped by a pair of armed citizens, according to Sheriff Grady Judd on Wednesday.
In a video released on Facebook, Judd said the incident happened after the woman — identified as Natalia Gaviria, 36, who lives in Kissimmee — got “intoxicated,” went to the store, and pulled out a knife.
“I didn’t stutter. She pulled out a knife, and she’s waving it around and threatening customers,” Judd said. “One of the managers starts running customers out the back door because she is afraid that she’s gonna stab some of them.”
At one point, Gaviria stabbed a soda bottle, Judd added.
However, two other armed citizens eventually came along and held Gaviria at gunpoint, the sheriff stated.
“That’s right. They both had concealed firearms. One had a permit, and in Florida, you don’t have to have a permit to have a concealed firearm,” Judd explained. “They pull their guns out and held her at gunpoint. Way to go Polk County!”
Deputies later arrived at the scene and took Gaviria into custody, Judd said. She now faces charges of disorderly intoxication, theft, and aggravated assault.
Furthermore, Sheriff Judd revealed that Gaviria was in the country illegally from Colombia.
“Maybe you act that way in Colombia, but you don’t act that way in Florida, and you sure don’t act that way in Polk County,” Judd concluded. “Or we’ll pull our guns on you here.”
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