A Florida airport employee was arrested and a local journalist suffered a minor assault, all in connection to an Apple Watch and stolen luggage.
Paola Garcia, a Florida college student, was outraged when her pink hard-shell suitcase went missing upon her recent arrival at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. W.P.L.G. She said she usually brings a carry-on suitcase when she flies, but this time Spirit Airlines forced her to check her suitcase.
The woman then became aggressive, grabbing Weinger’s ID tag from around his neck and punching him in the legs while he screamed for help and demanded to “get on camera.”
Garcia said that when the plane landed at the airport that day, she waited at baggage claim for “at least two hours,” but watched other passengers leave with their luggage while hers still hadn’t arrived. Garcia was especially concerned because she had several valuable items in her suitcase, including jewelry, a MacBook and two Apple Watches.
A Spirit Airlines representative assured Garcia that the suitcase would be found and returned quickly, “so I gave them my address,” Garcia said.
The package never arrived at her address, but the next morning one of her Apple Watches pinged from another address in Florida, which Garcia claimed was a home just 15 minutes from the airport.
Garcia was still worried about her lost belongings, so she decided to drive to the stranger’s house to try and get them back. “I needed my computer. I have an exam that day,” she explained.
When she arrived, she couldn’t find her suitcase, but noticed several items scattered around the yard and immediately called 911.
After Broward County officers arrived on the scene and scolded Garcia for putting himself in a “dangerous” situation, they searched the address in the airport’s database and found a hit: Junior Basil, a 29-year-old who works at the airport’s retail store, Paradise Shops, lives at the home and happened to be working at the airport on the day Garcia’s belongings went missing.
Airport security footage obtained by police as part of the investigation showed Basile rummaging through Garcia’s luggage and placing items in clear plastic bags. Brazil was subsequently arrested and charged with felony theft of items valued at more than $750. New York Post report.
Garcia’s lost items have never been found.
Spirit Airlines later released the following statement: “While we are not currently aware of any evidence that Spirit Airlines employees were involved, we issued a refund check to the passenger as a courtesy. We take allegations of this nature seriously and are investigating.”
An airport spokesperson told WPLG that airlines are responsible for checked baggage.
Meanwhile, WPLG reporter Jeff Weinsher visited Bazile’s home to try to get more details about what happened. Bazile was not home at the time, but his mother, who has not been named, spoke with Weinsher. In front of the camera A few minutes.
At first, she remained relatively calm, adamantly denying the allegations against her son. “When the police come here, they find nothing,” she said, repeatedly pointing at Weinshear. “Nothing in my house. Nothing in my house.”
However, the woman’s attitude quickly changed when Weinshear challenged her about the alerts on Garcia’s Apple Watch. The woman then became aggressive, grabbing Weinshear’s ID tag from around his neck and punching him in the legs while he cried for help and claimed he had attacked her. She demanded to be “on camera,” and of course she was on camera throughout the entire conversation.
Weinsear reported that the woman never asked him to leave, and he subsequently denied pressing the charges.
A few days later, when Weinsher came to the courthouse to ask for comment, Bazile repeatedly told him to “go away.” It is unclear whether Bazile has yet to plead to the theft charge.
Paradies Shops declined WPLG’s request for comment, and the sheriff’s office maintained the entire incident is still under investigation.
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