A tense afternoon at a Miami Costco gas station ended with one driver in handcuffs and another nursing cuts and bruises, after what police say started as a membership dispute and spiraled into a roadside attack.
According to an arrest report obtained by NBC6, 29-year-old Valeria Andrea Aguilar was arrested Wednesday following a confrontation at the Costco gas pumps at 7795 West Flagler Street.
Authorities say Aguilar was yelling at patrons and a Costco attendant when another driver pulled up, spoke with the attendant, and asked that Aguilar's membership be revoked. That request allegedly sent the situation over the edge.
The report states Aguilar ran after the victim's vehicle and then followed her away from the store to the intersection of Northwest 7th Street and Northwest 82nd Avenue. There, police say, Aguilar allegedly punched the woman, grabbed her clothing and scratched her face, arms and chest.
NBC6 reports the victim suffered lacerations, bruises and injuries to her nose. Aguilar was taken into custody at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital before being booked into jail, and a judge later ordered she be held without bond and stay away from both the Costco location and the alleged victim.
What the charge means
Aguilar is facing a serious allegation listed in the arrest report as “burglary with assault or battery.” Under Florida law, that charge is treated as a first-degree felony when the offender “makes an assault or battery upon any person,” according to Florida Statute 810.02. That classification can bring much steeper penalties than a standard burglary charge if prosecutors move forward and secure a conviction.
A pattern at pumps
The incident is the latest dramatic clash at South Florida fuel stations. In an earlier case this February, Local 10 reported that deputies arrested a woman after she allegedly tried to set fuel nozzles on fire and threatened customers. Law enforcement officials and station operators say confrontations at the pumps can escalate quickly, sometimes turning physical or involving weapons.
What happens next
Prosecutors will now review the arrest report and court file before deciding what formal charges to pursue and when to schedule future hearings. The no-bond order and stay-away restriction were put in place at a Thursday court appearance, according to NBC6.
