NEED TO KNOW
Two Spirit Airlines employees are facing theft charges after allegedly stealing a passenger’s designer bagThe employees, who were working at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, allegedly stole a $500 Louis Vuitton wristlet in OctoberA Spirit spokesperson tells PEOPLE one employee has been suspended without pay while the other is on a leave of absence
Two Spirit Airlines employees are currently facing theft charges after allegedly stealing a passenger’s $500 Louis Vuitton bag.
According to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE from the Broward County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Shortly after 8 p.m. local time, a Spirit passenger arrived at Terminal 3 gate F6 for a flight to Austin, per the sheriff’s office report. When the woman arrived, she “left her Louis Vuitton wristlet on the counter prior to boarding,” according to CCTV footage viewed by investigators. At 8:10 p.m., the wristlet was located and handed in to an employee working at the gate counter.
A Spirit Airlines plane.
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty
Three days later, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, CCTV footage captured guest supervisor Olukunle Idowu allegedly finding “the victim’s wristlet inside the drawer.” Around 5:37 a.m., the report claims, he “took possession of it and looked inside of it,” per the affidavit.
Idowu, 49, then allegedly placed the wristlet inside a plastic bag and walked over to gate F4 to take “inventory of the contents,” before placing the items back in the bag.
At 5:51 a.m., the affidavit claims co-defendant Hyacinth Linton arrived at the gate and stood directly next to Iwodu. The 56-year-old then allegedly took her own look at the contents of the plastic bag.
Just four minutes later, CCTV footage showed Linton allegedly taking the empty wristlet and placing it in her personal backpack. The plastic bag, which contained the remaining items, was subsequently thrown into the garbage with both employees on the scene, the affidavit claims.
The victim told investigators the wristlet is valued at $505.
According to the Miami Herald, Idowu was arrested on Nov. 21. Court documents obtained by PEOPLE show he pleaded not guilty to the charges of petit theft between $100 and $750. Idowu’s attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. PEOPLE was unable to reach Linton.
Meanwhile court records show Linton was arrested on Nov. 13 and later posted a $500 bail. A plea has not been entreated for her petit theft charges.
An initial hearing is currently scheduled for Jan. 8.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
James D. Morgan/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a Spirit Airlines spokesperson confirmed the company was aware that “two employees were charged in November for an alleged theft.”
“One employee has been suspended without pay, and the other is on a leave of absence,” the statement said. “We are conducting a thorough investigation into this matter and will take further action as deemed necessary following the conclusion of our investigation.”