Woman Admits Assault, Stealing $5.25 Sandwich

December 12, 2014

Appearing in Magistrates Court this morning [Dec 12], a 26-year-old woman pleaded guilty to stealing a cheese sandwich valued at $5.25 and assaulting a police officer.

Crown Prosecutor Ms Nicole Smith told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo that November 2014, at the South Shore gas station, Ms Trimiea Roland had ordered a cheese sandwich.

Told that it would cost $5.25, Ms Roland responded: “Used to be $4.00. Now it’s $5.25.” She refused to take the sandwich and left the store.

She returned shortly after asking: “Where’s my f***** sandwich,” the staff gave her the previously rejected sandwich and Ms Roland took the sandwich. She said ”I ain’t paying for s***” and left without paying.

Police were called and found Ms Roland at a nearby bus stop in the process of consuming the cheese sandwich.

The Court heard that in the process of police arresting her, Ms Roland kicked a policeman and had to be wrestled to the ground.

When the Crown Prosecutor suggested to the Magistrate that there could be mental health issues and recommended pre-sentencing reports, Ms Roland exclaimed: “I ain’t getting those. I tell you that right now.”

The Magistrate then ordered a Social Inquiry Report and set sentencing for January 2015 and remanded Ms Roland into custody.

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Comments (56)

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  1. somuchless says:

    Took the sandwhich and headed to the bus stop. Was this an April Fools joke lol. Steals than walks. Lol

  2. aceboy says:

    She sounds like such a nice lady.

  3. Smh says:

    $5.25 for a cheese sandwich?

    • Ride says:

      It’s simple, really. If you don’t want to pay $5.25 for a cheese sandwich then buy a $6 loaf of bread, a $3 slab of cheese and make your own. What you don’t do is steal a cheese sandwich and then fight the officers that come to enforce the laws you’ve broken.

      You’ll have many more sandwiches and even more freedom by making your own.

  4. True Bermudian says:

    hahahhahahahah well in all fairness they would have thrown the sandwich in the trash anyway…soooooo let her smash de cheese samich

  5. Raymond Ray says:

    In all honesty I do want Ms. Roland to receive the treatment required if it’s required…If it’s not a mental issue, at least she can look at the bright-side, she’ll be getting a Christmas meal

  6. kat says:

    The Struggle is REAL people

    • Truth is killin' me... says:

      Sooooooo…that means you have the right to steal…nooooooo…I don’t agree with that…kat!

    • hmmm says:

      If she was struggling she wouldn’t be going to a gas station and buying a cheese sandwich. Cans of soup , rice and beans. packet soups to use as a source for a pasta or rice dish. Lots of ways to budget eat.

  7. Hey says:

    It’s not that serious to take her to court for a $5.25 sandwich. Everyone could have saved time by just having her pay the money back.

    • jonny says:

      and if she don’t, then what?

    • Openyadamneyesdopey says:

      Pay back for the cheese sandwich?!? And I know – lets just forget about assaulting the cop!

      Thats why we are where we are, because people want to look the other way over “small offenses” so these idiots don’t know the word “no”. They think they can act with impunity.

      SMH that all the talk is about a freaking cheese sandwich and not a mention about assaulting a cop!

    • aceboy says:

      And you probably ascribe to the “it take a village to raise a child”….yet here you are suggesting that an assault on the police should be ignored and the woman made to pay the money and all be forgotten.

      Would that make you the village idiot?

  8. Chester cheetah says:

    It ain’t easy being cheesy

  9. Sally smith says:

    Silly little girls trying to act grown. She should have taken the $4 she was willing to pay for the sandwich and got some chips and a soda and called that a meal. At least she wouldn’t be in trouble now .

  10. Just One says:

    Where is the voice of reason, conscience, that I think most of us have…that voice that says it’s easier to pay 5.25 than it is to get arrested, go to court, name is in the news, and fined/locked up(even just for a day)? This just doesn’t seem logical, wonder what will come out of that social inquiry report… I’m sure she knew better, but that attitude is the same attitude that a lot of people her age have…they just don’t value themselves, it seems…just asking to be locked up and thrown away. Maybe they already feel “thrown away” by society? Can’t blame everything on society, just like you can’t blame everything on music, TV, the devil, etc… Whatever the cause, there is a disease affecting some people in our community, but how do we cure it?

  11. Psychology 101 says:

    Her mental state had everything to do with $5.25 and cheese. Hunger makes you do cheesy things. She had a bad morning and then to be short of money – in front of others perhaps. Went to the car but still didn’t have enough. Her mental state was distorted by the want for a cheese sandwich

    • hmmm says:

      Why didn’t she try asking folks politely if anyone had the 1.25 as all she had on her was 4.00 thinking the sandwich was 4.00.

      Although if she is struggling fiancially as some made out on here, then it would be more efficient to buy the bread and cheese and make 6 cheese sandwiches over the next couple of days.

    • Lol says:

      Don’t task about going out to the car, article clearly stated she was at the bus stop…

  12. Smart Gal says:

    This whole incident could have been handled so much better. Why didn’t the venue just get the 4 bucks from her and say never again and don’t come back in here.
    After all they probably would have still made $3.50 on the sandwich. Now the cost of the court and her assessment is on all of us. Not to mention her custody costs.

    In my recollection there are 2 gas stations on South Road. So which ever one it was shame on you. And no I don’t condone stealing. But I mean a sandwich that cost the company maybe 50 cents, give me a break !!

    • Creamy says:

      Yeah, it’s the victim’s fault, obviously. Anyone comes in and wants a sandwich, or anything else, they should just hand it over.

      • Smart Gal says:

        Hey Creamy – usually I don’t take the time to reply to posters, but please do me the favour of at least reading my comment in full before commenting.
        Thank you

        • Creamy says:

          I stand by my comment, which was sarcastic,100%. You’re blaming the victim.

        • Arts Supporter says:

          Perhaps that is what may have happened if she did not become defiant with the police officers. She would probably have been given a reprimand with warning.

    • .am says:

      That’s not how the cost of a cheese sandwich is made up, though. You have to pay for the electricity to keep the bread fresh and the lights on. You have to pay for the utensils to cut, for the sanitary gloves, and for the packaging it’s delivered in. You also have to pay for the person who made it, the time it took to train them, the time spent training them, etc etc.

      It’s never ‘just’ 50c.

      And by/with they logic, you’d condone the physical theft of DVDs and CDs as they cost pennies to make.

  13. YIP says:

    At least get some fries too…

  14. Bermuda Jake says:

    The lack of compassion astounds me.

    I don’t doubt that her hunger drove her to act in a manner that is unreasonable. It is $5.25 and we want to have deep moral arguments about a person who is hungry and probably didn’t have the $1.25 for the sandwich and the bus.

    We have more to be ashamed of than she does.

    • Stunned... says:

      hell no.

      I refuse to be shamed by somebody who takes no responsibility for their actions.

      • theothersidebda says:

        Last I checked, pleading guilty means you are taking responsibility for your actions.

      • Bermuda Jake says:

        Of course, because in your life you are a perfect person in every way possible.

        Right.

    • Self says:

      I agree with you. As I began reading, my first thought was that this young lady sounds like she has some mental issues. This was confirmed when I read that the Prosecutor made the same statement.
      If that is the case, then this is certainly no joking matter. She would deserve compassion, not harsh criticism or judgment. Normal, rational people don’t behave in this matter, and I hope she gets the help that is needed.

  15. WT5 says:

    Really they are keeping her remanded in custody for a $5.25 cheese sandwich…. i guess another way to WASTE the TAX payers DOLLARS SMH only in Bermuda

    • Creamy says:

      If you read the story, she is not being incarcerated because of the sandwich. There is a bit more to the story. But you do have to read it.

    • X man says:

      This women should get medication at the Wellness Center not the Co-ed
      We the people lose on this one — by time she comes out of the Co-ed she would have cost Bermuda $ 4000 or more -for a measly five Dollar Cheese Sandwich — when is Govt.going to start looking at cases like this that cost a lot of money for nothing — what a waste!

  16. Time Shall Tell says:

    $5.25 for a cheese sandwich, who’s robbing who?

  17. yum says:

    grilled cheese kid what you didnt even know

  18. D says:

    She should have ordred toast maybe it would have been in her price range

  19. Just saying says:

    everyone is quick to talk about the sandwhich but this girl assaulted a police officer!!! That should be the most disturbing part!!

  20. Need Peace says:

    What is Bermuda coming to? Back in the day a Mom & Pop’s store would have gladly helped this lady out! It was a simple cheese sandwich, you mean you couldn’t spare her $1.25? Maybe I could avoid South Shore Gas Stations! A loaf of bread is over $7.00!!!! Shame on you New Bermuda!!!!

  21. Sky Pilot says:

    I see a few things wrong in this story,

    a)a cheese sandwhich costing £5.25….that’s a freakin’rip off!
    b)a person is assaulted for doing his job.
    c)someone needing help that perhaps should have had help before.

    Welcome to Bermuda,make your own sammies and bring ya meds with you!

    • Creamy says:

      Actually, she has “had help” before. See BERR’s comment.

  22. MAKE MY DAY says:

    One cheese sandwich costs $5.25 in BDA today!! I could never return and afford to live there again!! I can get a complete lunch in Arizona for that price!!

  23. Prayerful says:

    We as a people show such disdain to those less fortunate than ourselves.

    There must have been an alternative to incarceration for this obviously hungry young lady. What happened to compassion and, how much is it going to cost us, to incarcerate her even if only one day.

  24. Herewith says:

    at the end of the day stealing is stealing no matter the amount or value of the item. It’s a shame to read many of these comments about its only 5.25 sandwich. Ya and it’s only a business that these people are running. It’s very sad we live in a society were it’ appears to be acceptable to steal. I know I have heard stories of my cousins doing that as young children and their parents forcing them to take it back a long with apologizing to the stores staff. Keeping in mind, you know a cut tail is coming later on. The key thing is there needs to be consequences for their actions. It’s not about wasting the courts time with simple matters it’s about punishing wrong doers.

  25. pimp squad holding it down says:

    send her to coed facility they have cheese sandwiches three times a week and four during holiday season. feliz navidad con pan y queso

  26. BERR says:

    This person needs some help she has a history of violence and has been in front of the courts before for a major assault in 2010. The system has failed to prepare her for life outside of prison, she is probably unemployed, frustrated and angry at society.

  27. Cafe Au Lait says:

    Does anyone know what kind of cheese it was? Cheddar, Swiss, American? Double Gloucester? How about Stilton? I bet it wasn’t Stilton.