Trust & Verify: Investigating a rumor about a Coconut Point Mall incident

WINK News is investigating a rumor about an incident at Coconut Point Mall that has been circulating on social media.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has also posted on Facebook to try to debunk the claims.

The claim: 

A Facebook post circulating suggested a 19-year-old woman was drugged at Coconut Point Mall after a man gave her a bouquet. The post said the woman was sitting outside of Starbucks when a man approached her with a bouquet. Shortly after, the woman supposedly saw a black van nearby with two men standing outside of it. Then the woman said she felt sick and passed out.

The fact: 

Not all of the claims are accurate. WINK News reached out to the sheriff’s office and their report states Lee County EMS and a deputy were called to the mall at 3:30 p.m. on Halloween. The woman was 31, not 19. And she never saw a black van. She did tell a deputy that she felt sick and disoriented after a stranger gave her the flowers. EMS confirmed that she had a raised heart rate but never lost consciousness. The woman did not want further testing and refused to file a formal report.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said the claim is false and the case is closed. However, according to the incident report, detectives are trying to get surveillance video from the mall.

WINK News reached out to Coconut Point management but has not heard back.

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