Mother-Daughter Duo Accused of Stealing Seafood, Assaulting Store Manager

Justin Morgan
By Justin Morgan
August 28, 2019US News
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Mother-Daughter Duo Accused of Stealing Seafood, Assaulting Store Manager
A photo of seafood. (James Wei/Unsplash)

A mother and daughter were arrested recently after attempting to steal hundreds of dollars worth of crab legs from a grocery store in Tennessee.

According to authorities, the couple were caught stuffing the crab legs into their purses at a SuperLo Foods in Memphis, reported WREG.

When the store manager tried to intervene, things allegedly took a violent turn, resulting in the manager being “struck twice in the face,” then Hollins and Hodges fled the scene.

One Shopper, Clord Thornton, said the solution to being able to enjoy eating crab legs is simple, work for it, “I’m 78, I have a lawn service business, and I work 7 days a week,” he said.

Another manager at the store told reporters both crab legs and oxtails are highly sought after items, often targeted by thieves.

Hollins and Hodges were later arrested, and charged with theft of property and assault. They are due to appear in court on Aug. 28.

The value of the stolen crab legs was said to be approximately $200.

Brawl Breaks Out Over Crab Legs

In another seafood related incident that took place earlier this year, a number of people were caught on video fighting over crab legs at a buffet in New York City.

The brawl erupted inside the Queens Buffet in the Ozone Park neighborhood on Feb. 23, police told the New York Post.

The fight started when a group of up to 10 people confronted a 30-year-old man and his female companion, 22, while they were sitting and eating.

The group punched and kicked the pair, leaving serious injuries.

Ten people remain wanted by police, but no arrests have been made despite weeks going by since the attack.

Witness Donna Brown, who filmed the video, said the fight stemmed from a dispute over crab legs.

“They are fighting over crab legs!” she said. Police could not confirm the reason for the fight. The video clip lasts about 10 minutes.

Connecticut Crab Leg Buffet Brawl

In a similar incident in 2016, two people were arrested after a fight at a Connecticut buffet. Police said Clifford Knight, 46, and Lataya Knight, 38, were also arrested after a fight involving crab legs in a buffet line.

A 21-year-old man named Vinnie Avery was punched in the face and suffered a cut lip and broken front tooth. His mother, Denise Avery, was also attacked. She used pepper-spray in self-defense and to protect her son.

She suffered a broken nose and a concussion, according to Hartford Courant, citing a police report.

Denise told the news website at the time that the dispute was actually not over crab legs, and that they don’t even eat seafood.

Instead, the argument started after Denise complained to restaurant staff about a young child with the Knight couple who was running her fingers through the water in the crab leg bowl. She and other diners thought it was unsanitary.

Clifford told police that he punched Vinnie after the 21-year-old “chest bumped” him.

Clifford was charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct, while Lataya was charged with second-degree threatening and disorderly conduct.

Zachary Stieber and Janita Kan contributed to this report.

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