Accused fried chicken thief can’t fly the coop

SEBASTIAN — An accused fried chicken filcher was unable to fly the coop, landing in the Indian River County Jail.

Sebastian police on Jan. 14 caught up with Jermichael Cummings, 63, as he sat outside a Walgreens noshing fried chicken that investigators say he pilfered from Publix, an affidavit states.

A manager at the nearby Publix in the 9600 block of U.S. 1 told investigators Cummings entered the store with a duffel bag.

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He walked to the deli area and selected a $7.99 box of fried chicken, a traditional Southern dish in which battered chicken parts are fried by submersion in hot oil.

Rather than chicken out, Cummings strutted past the produce area and made his way to the bathroom.

Cummings didn’t roost in the restroom. Instead, investigators say he exited “with the duffel bag in hand but the chicken was no longer visible,” an affidavit states.

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The alleged fowl play continued as Cummings is accused of leaving without paying for the fried chicken.

Investigators found Cummings sitting (nesting?) on a bench at the nearby Walgreens “consuming a piece of fried chicken which was stolen from Publix,” an affidavit states.

Cummings, of Vero Beach, said he was hungry.

He was arrested on charges including theft (retail) and trespass after warning.

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