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Police: Florida man threatens Starbucks worker over cream cheese

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A man is accused of threatening the daughter of a South Florida police chief with a gun after the woman, who works at Starbucks, neglected to put cream cheese on his bagel, authorities said.

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Omar Wright, 38, was arrested Thursday and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and armed robbery with a firearm, according to Miami-Dade County online court records.

Wright posted $10,000 bail on Saturday, online records show.

According to police, the 23-year-old woman, the oldest daughter of Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt, was working as a barista at a Starbucks drive-thru window Wednesday, the Miami Herald reported. According to an arrest report, Wright pulled out a gun because he was upset that no cream cheese was on the bagel he had bought, WFOR reported.

Police said Wright began using profanity and brandished a black handgun, then told her he would hurt her, according to WTVJ.

Investigators allege that surveillance cameras showed Wright waving the gun, although he was not necessarily pointing the weapon at anyone, WPLG reported.

After Wright was given the cream cheese he left the Starbucks, the television station reported.

“Mr. Wright’s demands for cream cheese, while armed with a firearm, caused a well-founded fear in the victim leading her to believe that if she didn’t give him the cream cheese, whether he pays for it or not, her life was being put at risk,” the arrest report states.

“As a mother, I am very concerned,” Noel-Pratt told WFOR. “Basically, you always know that you could be prone to something like this, however, when it reaches your household you are in total shock.”

Police interviewed Wright on Friday, the Herald reported. According to the police report, Wright told authorities he had grabbed the gun and pointed it in the air because it was falling out of his pocket while he was arguing with the barista, the newspaper reported.

“(He) denied threatening the victim but stated, he knew what he did was wrong,” the report said.

Friday in court, Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer noted that Wright was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and armed robbery with a firearm, WFOR reported. Wright objected, “I don’t know how they got armed robbery,” according to court records.

Wright’s mother told WPLG that her son is “a fine young man.”

“He has, unfortunately, based on social media, done something that is not very fine.”

Starbucks issued a statement expressing concern over the incident.

“The safety of our partners (employees) and customers is always our top priority, and we are grateful to learn that no one was injured,” Starbucks officials said.

After posting bail, Wright answered questions from a reporter.

“Always go to Dunkin’ Donuts,” Wright told WPLG. “Never Starbucks.”