[PHOTO CREDIT: Wikipedia.org]
[Original Publish Date: 11/07/19]
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TAVARES, Florida – A Leesburg woman filed a lawsuit Friday accusing a local store’s loss prevention officer of falsely implicating her in a grand theft – a charge a jury acquitted her of.
According to the lawsuit filed Friday by Sadia Afrin, she is suing Brett Lyons, the loss prevention officer and the store he worked for, Belk’s Inc., for a host of alleged wrongs including false imprisonment, negligent investigation, training, retention, supervision and management, negligence and malicious prosecution.
In 2016, Afrin was accused of grand theft by a loss prevention officer employed by Belk, 10401 US Highway 441, Leesburg, located inside the Lake Square Mall. Lyons detained Afrin and advised a Leesburg Police officer she had committed retail theft – a lie, according to her lawsuit.
Afrin was arrested and charged with grand theft and booked into the Lake County Jail. She took the case to trial in January 2018. During the trial, Lyons swore under oath he observed Afrin take merchandise via a security camera, according to the lawsuit. After the jury heard Lyons’ testimony, the testimony of the arresting officer and watched the surveillance video, Afrin was found not guilty. The jury deliberated less than 30 minutes, according to the lawsuit
“The prosecution by defendant against plaintiff was without probable cause and commenced and continued by said defendant with malice towards plaintiff and to wrong plaintiff,” the lawsuit claims.
Afrin filed her complaint in Lake County Circuit Court and is seeking more than $15,000 in damages. She is represented by Harold Thompson of De Novo Law PA, in Orlando.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
