Woman arrested after allegedly planting pork products outside Middle Eastern grocery store

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (WKRC) – A woman was arrested after she allegedly planted pork products outside a middle eastern grocery store.

According to WPEC, 61-year-old Christine Fernandez has been charged after police said she deliberately placed pork products outside a Middle Eastern grocery store in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Per the outlet’s report, Port St. Lucie Police Department arrested Fernandez after investigators reviewed surveillance video showing her placing what appeared to be pork products along the sidewalk outside the business on May 30.

“What I don’t understand is, what was the point of this? What did I do?” owner Hiba Sharifeh said when speaking to WPEC.

Police said the incident occurred around 1:40 p.m. outside a grocery store specializing in Middle Eastern food products on Southeast Port St. Lucie Boulevard. Investigators determined the act was intended to harass, intimidate and cause distress based on the owners’ religious and ethnic heritage, WPEC reported.

Under Islamic dietary laws, pork consumption is prohibited.

“You can see on the camera how she stops at the end of my window, stands there for a few seconds, and then walks back. Proud of what she did.” owner Hiba Sharifeh told the outlet. “

WPEC reported that Fernandez was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on Monday before being released on a $750 cash bond. She is awaiting her initial court appearance.

Store owner Hiba Sharef told WPEC she was attending her nephew’s graduation when the incident occurred. Her husband and 11-year-old son were working at the store and called to inform her what had happened.

After reviewing surveillance footage, Sharef said she believed the woman intentionally placed the pork products directly in front of the business. She told WPEC the store has operated for more than a year and that she had never experienced a similar incident.

According to WPEC, police said all physical evidence has been turned over to the State Attorney’s Office. The department also reminded the public that while freedom of expression is protected, targeted harassment and intimidation based on religious or ethnic identity are criminal offenses.

“I was worried about my kids. Because if there’s somebody that’s willing to do something like that, I don’t know if somebody’s going to do something to my kids,” Sharifeh told WPEC, adding, “if I didn’t speak up, that would probably make me an easy target.