Police: UTSA student, 18, arrested after refilling cup without paying, scuffle with employee

Justice A. Falade, 18, was arrested Nov. 16, 2016, on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated robbery. Justice A. Falade, 18, was arrested Nov. 16, 2016, on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated robbery. Image 1 of / 48 Caption Close Police: UTSA student, 18, arrested after refilling cup without paying, scuffle with employee 1 / 48 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — An 18-year-old UTSA student was arrested Wednesday for allegedly getting a soft drink refill from a restaurant on campus and assaulting one of the workers who tried to force him to pay, according to court documents.

Justice A. Falade was charged with first-degree aggravated robbery, which poses a maximum sentence of between five to 99 years or life in prison.

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Falade allegedly walked over to a soda machine dispenser on Monday in the John Peace Library food court and filled a personal cup with a beverage and walked away.

An employee at the food court, described as being 65 years of age or older, confronted Falade and said he had to pay for the drink. He allegedly told her no because it was his own cup and tried to walk away, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by mySA.com.

When he walked away the woman said she would call police and started doing so. Falade then allegedly grabbed the phone out of her hand and walked away with it. She attempted to get her phone back by pulling on the man’s backpack.

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When she reached for her phone, he allegedly grabbed her by her left wrist and “slammed her to the ground,” the affidavit said.

Falade confessed to the theft incident but disagreed on the manner that the complainant landed on the ground, the affidavit said.

He said he gave her “ample warning” to let go and then jerked his arm away from her, causing her to stumble and fall, according to the affidavit.

A witness intervened and grabbed Falade, throwing him to the ground and telling him to get out of the area, according to the affidavit.

Falade was identified via a still photograph from surveillance footage.

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The woman suffered a contusion to her left hand, a right shoulder sprain and a sprained left wrist, the affidavit said.

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twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite