A Florida woman who tried to give money to a a roadside flower vendor was captured on video getting arrested for the interaction last week, The Miami Herald reported.
The video was posted by TikTok user Arely Castillo, which shows the woman, identified as Annika Olson protesting her arrest.
“I just tried to give her $20!” Olson says in the video. “I just tried to give this lady $20! Please send this
to me!”
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office explained in a Facebook post that deputies were initially investigating flower vendor Norma Garcia.
On August 16, 2023, LCSO deputies were conducting an investigation in Bonita Springs, involving Norma Garcia, who was selling merchandise in the median of Imperial Parkway, in violation of County Ordinance 28-123. This ordinance, for the safety of pedestrians and motorists, prohibits the sale of merchandise from the median or in the roadway. The investigation took longer as Ms. Garcia is a Nicaraguan national who spoke only Spanish, apparently had only Nicaraguan identification, and had been previously deported from the United States in September of 2022. Deputies also confirmed Ms. Garcia had been previously warned that selling merchandise in the roadway was prohibited. While investigating Ms. Garcia’s actions and identity, a passerby, Annika Olson, was driving by the scene and stopped her vehicle in the driving lane on Imperial Parkway. She then approached the deputies. Ms. Olson’s vehicle, parked in the roadway, blocked the traffic lane and created a safety hazard for other motorists, deputies, Ms. Garcia, and herself. Ms. Olson refused the deputies’ requests to move her abandoned vehicle from Imperial Parkway, and park in an area safely off the roadway. Instead of moving her vehicle from the roadway, she left the vehicle in the driving lane, approached the deputies, and interfered with their investigation and Ms. Garcia’s arrest. Ms. Olson was arrested for violation of Florida Statute 316.072 for refusing to comply with police or firefighter’s lawful orders, and Florida Statute 893.09 for resisting an officer without violence.
Olson told NBC2 News that she felt bad for the vendor.
“I never intended on anything to happen,” she said. “I just wanted to give someone 20 bucks because they were having a bad day. I had no idea panhandling was illegal; people do it all the time.”
Watch the video below:
@arelyyy38 Yesterday this young girl watched a lady selling flowers get arrested. This young girl pulled over and tried to give her $20 but she also ended up getting arrested. I’m trying to contact her. Her name is Annika Olson help this get to her.
