A Florida woman allegedly turned a heated road rage exchange into a bizarre criminal case by hurling a glass jar of condiment at another driver’s face, causing injury and confusion for responding deputies. Christine Sweet, 57, stands accused of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after authorities say she threw a jar of vegan mayonnaise at a victim on Corkscrew Road in Estero.
Background
The incident began on Aug. 20 around 4 p.m., according to a probable cause arrest affidavit from the Lee County Sheriff's Office. The victim was driving near Interstate 75 when a van cut her off. In response, the victim sounded her horn. The passenger in the van, identified as Sweet, reportedly began yelling profanities and gesturing obscenely at the victim. When the traffic light turned green, the van driver moved slowly into the next lane rather than proceeding through the intersection. The victim pulled alongside the van, and both women exchanged words with their windows down.
The confrontation escalated when the victim felt a sudden pain in her face after seeing an arm flash through the suspect vehicle's window. She looked down to find a broken glass jar of 'veganaise' in her car. Sweet allegedly told the victim, 'I hit her in the face. Go, go, go!' The victim sustained a laceration under her eye, sought treatment at an emergency room, and later reported the incident to police. She spotted the suspect vehicle again in Fort Myers last week and alerted deputies, leading to Sweet's arrest.
The Investigation
Body-camera footage released by the Lee County Sheriff's Office captured the moment deputies confronted Sweet with the evidence. The responding deputy, unfamiliar with the product, asked, 'What is that?' Sweet reportedly explained, 'It was veganaise. It's a vegan version of mayonnaise.' After clarifying the nature of the 'deadly weapon,' Sweet allegedly admitted to throwing the jar. The deputy informed her that throwing objects at people was not permissible and placed her under arrest. Sweet was booked into the Lee County Jail and posted a $20,000 bond.
Key Takeaways
- Christine Sweet, 57, is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon following a road rage incident in Estero, Florida.
- The alleged weapon was a glass jar of vegan mayonnaise, which struck the victim in the face and caused a laceration under her eye.
- The victim identified the suspect vehicle days later in Fort Myers, leading to Sweet's arrest by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
- Body-camera footage shows Sweet explaining to deputies that the jar contained 'veganaise,' a vegan version of mayonnaise.
- Sweet posted a $20,000 bond following her booking at Lee County Jail.
What's Next
Sweet remains out on a $20,000 bond while the Lee County Sheriff's Office finalizes the case file for the state attorney. No specific court dates have been publicly announced yet, but legal proceedings are expected to move forward given the severity of the aggravated battery charge. Investigators are reviewing body-camera footage and witness statements to support the prosecution's case.