Cops: Woman Swiped Cash From Tip Jar, Ended Up Jailed for Assault

Tiara Biasi (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A 43-year-old woman was arrested at a Boca Raton Dunkin’ Donuts store after she allegedly took a $1 bill from a tip jar and later assaulted and battered law enforcement officers during the investigation, according to a police report filed in court this week.

The suspect, Tiara Biasi, of West Palm Beach, was arrested after officers responded around 9:25 a.m. to the Dunkin location at 1215 W. Palmetto Park Road following a reported theft on May 31. According to the police report, store employees notified a manager that a customer had allegedly removed money from a tip jar near the cash register while a fellow employee were preparing a coffee order and looking in the other direction. The manager reviewed surveillance footage and reported seeing the woman take a $1 bill from the jar and place it into a black backpack before leaving the counter area.

An officer who reviewed the surveillance footage wrote that the video appeared to corroborate the manager’s account. Police alleged that when another officer initially contacted Biasi before the arrival of the investigating officer, she became aggressive and attempted to strike the officer by swinging her right arm toward the officer’s face. She was then placed in handcuffs while the investigation continued.

According to the report, Biasi was advised of her Miranda rights and allegedly acknowledged taking the $1 bill from the tip jar. Police said the bill was recovered among her property; the store manager then declined to accept the money when officers attempted to return it, and the bill was submitted into evidence. But while being searched after her arrest, the suspect is alleged to have become combative, actively resisting officers and kicking one officer in the left leg with her right foot, according to the report.

Biasi was subsequently charged with petty theft, assault on a law enforcement officer and battery on a law enforcement officer. She remained lodged in the Palm Beach County Jail on Tuesday in lieu of $4,000 combined bail for the three charges.