Florida Fast Food Tantrum Suspect's Lawyer Calls Out Polk Sheriff

BARTOW -- The defense attorney for a woman accused of throwing cups at workers and creating a disturbance in a Lakeland McDonald's is pushing back at Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd after the news conference and surveillance video of the event went viral.

"Sheriff Grady (Judd) attacked one of my clients. (He) attacked a black woman (and) threw an underage minor in harm's way," Jeremy McLymont told reports outside the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow Friday.

The incident happened a week ago Thursday (May 19th) at a McDonald's on US 92 near Combee Road. The release from the sheriff says Jones hit a plastic sign toward an employee, then threw several bottles, then walked behind the counter and threw cups on the floor and at employees. The entire incident lasted ten minutes before Jones was convinced to leave.

Jeremy McLymont says Judd mocked his client's mental illness by calling her "two fries short of a happy meal." McLymont says 22-year-old Tianis Jones has bipolar disorder and has been off her meds because she is pregnant. He says she has been stressed with her pregnancy and supporting her family. McLymont called Judd's comments "unprofessional" and said he'd have to start Jones' defense "ten points behind" because of his comments, which he said would taint the jury pool if it goes to trial.

McLymont says that while some see the Polk sheriff as "the class clown", he sees Judd as dangerous to the judicial system.

McLymont also claims Judd's news conference last Friday was at odds with the facts. According to McLymont, Jones' order was not online, but was placed at the drive-through window. He says Jones waited 10 to 15 minutes for her order, and an employee brought out drinks but not the food, which was for her five-year-old brother. "Her little brorhter was crying... the employees did not give her a refund, and did not want to give her her food. "When Tianis didn't get her food, she caused havoc," McLymont said. "With the weight of the world on her shoulders, taking care of her family, having to deal with the issues... at McDonald's, she snapped. That doesn't make her a criminal, that makes her human."

The attorney also referenced Jones' call to 911, saying "she didn't call to complain about the order. She called to complain about them taking her money."

Jones' lawyer also questioned the intensity of the search and media attention. McLymont claimed he was already communicating with the sheriff's office, setting up the process for Jones to turn herself in when the news conference took place. It was also claimed that deputies told Jones' family they couldn't work on any other cases until they found her. "He put out a manhunt for Tianis Jones, for throwing cups in McDonald's. He (charged her with) a first-degree felony."

McLymont also accused Judd of putting an underage girl in danger, as the video included Jones' 15-year-old sister. Jones' family says she should not have been put on TV without her consent. Jones' mother, Klyvia Vargas, says people have been coming up to family members and playing the viral video and laughing in their faces. "You messed with the wrong family," Vargas said in a comment directed at the sheriff.

Jones herself only spoke briefly, and mostly about her little sister being on television. "I want my little sister to have justice because she is a minor, and whoever put her on TV without (her parents') consent is wrong." Jones also says the video shouldn't have been released without more information on the story being reported.

Prior to the news conference, Judd held a "prebuttal" of anticipated remarks in response to a reporter's question about Jones' mental health and pregnancy. "doesn't that sound like a 'McExcuse'," Judd said. He said McLymont "has an opportunity to get a lot of free publicity." Judd insisted that no potential juror will pay attention to a news conference for a case that goes to trial one to three years down the road. "Our criminal has a McLawyer and we're going to McCourt."

Photo: Polk Sheriff's Office/Canva


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