Victor Barbosa, the Palm Coast City Council member and a candidate for re-election this year, was trespassed from the city’s Walmart on Sunday (Feb. 27) after a store officer accused him of shoplifting by skip scanning san item at self-checkout.
Barbosa, 42, was briefly taken into “custody” at Walmart, according to a Flagler County Sheriff’s report, but was not charged with shoplifting. It is Walmart’s policy not to seek prosecution of individuals for shoplifted values below $25. But the store does trespass those individuals.
Barbosa this afternoon said he had planned to buy $300 worth of merchandise. “I was in a hurry and one thing didn’t get scanned,” he said. But the matter, he said, “was taken care of.” He said he called Walmart’s corporate office, which he said issued him an apology. He expected the trespass warning to be lifted. The Sheriff’s Office has not received any communication from Walmart to that effect as of close of business Monday, a sheriff’s spokesperson said.
According to 911 notes, Barbosa was in custody at 6:12 p.m., after an asset protection officer at Walmart observed him at the self-checkout scanners. She told a sheriff’s deputy that she had been surveilling customers at check-out through the store’s closed-circuit television system.
“As she watched [Barbosa] scan items to purchase, she observed him skip scanning a clothing item,” the sheriff’s more extensive incident report states.
As a means of deterrence and to give a shopper another chance to scan items properly, store officers have the ability to pause a transaction at a particular scanner, compelling the shopper to move to a different scanner and start all over again and pay for all items. The officer did that with the scanner Barbosa was using. He moved to another self-check-out register and started ringing up his items.
Barbosa at that point “began to get agitated and was verbally rude and disrespectful towards [the store officer] and anyone else that came into the office,” the sheriff’s deputy wrote. “Management made sure that there was only 1 item that was not paid for and did a training receipt for the item.” The deputy reported Barbosa in her presence as cooperating with all the deputy’s requests as he was being served with the trespass warning. Body camera footage shows Barbosa calm and compliant as the deputy explains that a trespass warning is better than an arrest for shoplifting. Handed the warning, Barbosa then left the property.
Trespassing is a second degree misdemeanor in Florida. Typically, the Sheriff’s Office does not arrest on a trespass but issues a trespass warnings, which has the same effect as a trespass–the individual may not return to the property–except if the warning is violated: at that point an arrest would be carried out.
Last July, the sheriff revealed that Victor Barbosa–or a man named Victor Barbosa whom it tied to the councilman by his passport–was under investigation for alleged felonies in Costa Rica. The investigation was forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Barbosa has denied knowledge of any of it, including his alleged charges in Costa Rica.
“I have received an update on it,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said on Feb. 24 after a press conference at the county courthouse. “What I can say is it’s still an active investigation with the Florida Department of law enforcement in conjunction with the US Department of Justice.”
An FDLE spokesperson today specified, with a caveat about the investigation: “I have no updates,” the spokesperson said. “We do not have a full investigation at this point. We opened a preliminary inquiry while awaiting documents from an outside source. We continue to wait for documents.”
L. Stryker says
Rules ha e changed. A young boy left store after being accused of taking a razor, which were never found. He was surrounded by 4 cop cars and hawled to jail. I hope this is not another one of those it’s not what you did but who you are@.
Pete says
Again… Stop electing republicans. This should be a no brainer at this point. This loser obviously wanted to not pay for this item for some reason. The article stated that they did their thing and sent him to another machine, where he again, decided to not scan it. He knew what he was doing. He was trying to steal something. The cost of the item doesn’t matter. Don’t Republicans pretend to be all about “personal responsibility”? He clearly has none, and anybody with any self respect, wouldn’t vote for this clown.
Since 1987 says
Painting with a wide brush Pete? Call the kettle black, throwing stones in a glass house much?
Greg says
Possibly wide, but definitely accurate. https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-congressional-candidate-martin-hyde-video/39203813
The dude says
I’m sure something was different there… maybe that situation was simply colored differently.
William Hughey says
People like to talk negative about public servants that do anything to make the world a better place.
WE have better things to do with our time!!
Tired of it says
How is stealing making the world a better place? Would you be so tolerant if he was stealing from you personally?
The dude says
In a way Barbosa was stealing from us all personally.
Theft like that indirectly causes higher prices.
Shark says
I guess he will be looking for a pay raise!!!
Chelsea Hawk says
That is hilarious. Sadly enough, he’ll still get re-elected.
jnlocal says
Not if I can help it, Chelsea.
ASF says
The essence of entitlement.
TR says
This guy is an idiot and seems to think he can get away with anything. He needs to be locked up and taken out of office immediately, no ands, ifs or buts.
Paul florio says
I agree and make him take down the election signs he has put up all over town since January
JP says
Maybe the sheriff should add “another shoplifter stopped, “to Barbosa’s signs, like he does on the signs in front of the drug dealers houses after he makes an arrest.
T says
I agree he had 2 chances to pay and didn’t then he says oops he is a thief lock him up vote him out pos
Dennis C Rathsam says
BYE ! BYE ! BARBOSO !!!
DP says
Time for this man to be removed from office. Whether he’s voted out, or removed by the council. He’s what we don’t need to represent the citizens of Palm Coast. He’s shown from time to time to serve only his agenda, and that of Danko. How much more BS is the citizens going to accept??? Remember this in November and vote him out.
JackAse says
Maybe as a punishment, he can pick up ALL of his campaign signs that are scattered throughout his he city. Disgusting loser
Pat says
Really? A mistake Victor? How do miss scanning the same item TWICE????
G A says
So republicans run around with their hair on fire shouting Who Elected this Moron?? Welllll YOU did! Keep electing morons and you will continue to get more of the same.
Percy's mother says
This story is meaningless to me knowing the extent to which Walmart “Asset Protection Officers” have been known to overstep their bounds.
I know a very upstanding CPA in Hollywood, Florida who was accosted by Walmart Asset Protection Officers as he was leaving a Walmart store with a barbecue. They thought he had stolen it, in other words, that he had walked out with the barbecue without paying for it. I’ll never forget him telling me the story. Imagine the surprise of the Walmart Asset Protection Officers when my friend, the CPA, pulled out the receipt for the said barbecue.
I know of other similar stories related to Walmart so the Victor Barbosa incident detailed in the story above is not an isolated incident.
As someone posted on Facebook Flagler Live, is it possible the barcode for the particular item wasn’t working correctly? I know I’ve been in numerous check out lines when the cashier tried to scan an item which DID NOT scan thereby creating a need for the cashier to manually input the item barcode number.
As usual, everyone is so very quick to jump on the bandwagon to heap on the negative comments, but perhaps there is a reasonable explanation.
It should also be noted that I do believe any particular company can be sued for false arrest in the case of mistaken accusation of shoplifting.
I have no affiliation to Victor Barbosa; however, sometimes there ARE explanations other than the obvious. But people always want to crucify first and ask questions later.
The dude says
Yeah… no.
The reports are pretty clear what happened, and given the person involved, and the various lawless and entitled proclivities he and his like minded people display every day… he does not get the benefit of the doubt here.
At all.
The good news is, he’s finally acting like a Central FL native tho.
David Schaefer says
So what this clown is a shit stain on the Palm Coast council as well as Stanko they both must go NOW…
Florida Voter says
I agree that there are a lot of unknowns, but if he left the store without paying for an item, that’s shoplifting. The receipt can be compared to the items in his bag to get a definitive answer, which it seems was done. This is not a “mistaken accusation of shoplifting.”
What happened? Did he try to scan it and the item failed to scan? That doesn’t make it “free.” Did he run the tag over the scanner and not notice the lack of “beep” of the item ringing up? Or did he completely skip that item and just move it from his cart to the bag? The first two scenarios might be accidental, but the last is intentional. To me, as it seems to you, the difference matters, but even in the first two cases, it’s inexcusable “to get agitated and [be] verbally rude and disrespectful towards [the store officer] and anyone else that [comes] into the office,” especially after the training receipt confirms that the “Asset Protection Officer” is correct.
DD says
Sure they make mistakes, we make mistakes …. but they have him on film visibly NOT scanning the item, initially at one scan station, and then again at another scan station. That is not a mistake.
Bill C says
Anyone else, if they couldn’t get the bar code to scan on two different machines would seek out the attendant (there’s always one or two there) and ask for assistance. At least that’s what an honest person would do. Usually the obvious answer is the right answer. BTW being asked to show your receipt when leaving the store is no big deal, you’re not being “crucified”.
bob says
you are not a victor you are a loser
Mark says
Long vacation in Costa Rica next?
Ronald G. Schrein says
How did we elect this suspected criminal to our city council?
Greg says
He wore a MAGA hat, and that was good enough for this community.
Been There says
Ummmm, look at some of the elected officials in this community. Fact, Mullins has a long history of fraud, theft, solicitation, wire fraud etc. For goodness sake, the Observer printed all his misdeeds when he ran for office and then turned around and endorsed him.
Fact, another county commissioner was forced to settle out of court in Chicago when he embezzeled from his own insurance company. Also endorsed by the Observer.
Still, you all vote for them.
Its simple for me. If the Observer endorses them, I look elsewhere.
Lou says
Crooked politicians
Whathehck? says
Anybody can skip scanning the exact same item twice. Could it be “trump won” underwear?
If honesty is still a quality in Palm Coast Sims Jones is the man.
Over It says
Can we get the County Council trespassed? Wasting our money on stupid things like a welcome center and spending money for a tourism director or whatever she is called. What tourism are we needing to push here that we need to spend that kind of money on salary and benefits for an unneeded position? When property values went up sp high the last wo years the County Council could have reduced the millage rate to help out our citizens, but instead they kept it the same saying they wanted to build up a reserve. BS they just find more ways to waste our money.
Aunt Edna says
@Over it,
The mileage rate was reduced.
Ryan says
Tourism falls under the county, NOT the city. Do some research on the TDC, and you may find some surprising results.
DD says
Thanks to FlaglerLive for reporting!
Vote this guy out of office.
Even before this, the guy has some really poor judgment, frequently on the wrong side of a vote.
Jack says
This is the guy that wanted to run for Treasurer and be in charge of collecting millions of dollars of our tax money.
Trump says
I have seen many people arrested for less. Lock his butt up and vote him out.
Concerned Citizen says
If I got into any trouble on or off the job I would go to jail. And be unemployed. Doesn’t matter if it happened or not. The fact that I put myself in an unethical situation would be cause enough for termination.
I guess when you are protected by the good ol boy system it’s different on that level.
It will be interesting to see how the City Council and Mayor respond to this latest escapade. Also wondering whatever happened to the FDLE investigation on the out of country charges. That seem to have gotten swept under the rug rather quickly.
I’m glad we have Flagler Live to keep us up to date of the continuing shennanigans our Politicians are up to.
sims jones says
People of Plam Coast what more do you need to know. See what is in front of you.
DK says
Hard to believe the FDLE has been waiting for what 2 years now for documents from Costa Rica. I can hear a broom. What a joke. What incompetency for the FDLE department.
GMan says
I like how people automatically defend this guy cause he is in office… What he cant be a thief or anything else cause he was elected? Maybe he is innocent, I cant judge, I dont know the facts of this, neither does anyone else….. Its called due justice, if he is guilty than so be it, if not than let it be so,,, but just because he is in office doesnt make him innocent….
RB says
He’s our councilman for FLEETWOOD DRIVE
I emailed him 4 months ago- Fleetwood has not gotten a PENNYSAVER paper delivery in 52 weeks- during this time of inflation and not getting this paper with supermarket adverts is crucial- Fleetwood Drive residents have called the PENNYSAVER hundreds of times only to get No VM or any human at the office- we called Victor as a last resort and he waved us off.
Percy's mother says
Instead of wasting energy complaining and writing complaint letters on FlaglerLive, how about taking the initiative and picking up a copy of the Pennysaver? The Pennysaver can be found at many locations around town. Ditto for the Palm Coast Observer. Pick it up. Problem solved. Months of complaining and frustration gone in a matter of an hour.
Just Saying says
You seem to be the only one here defending him and making excuses. It is common knowledge that he likes to make his own rules and gets very verbally abusive when things don’t go his way.
Mark says
Same in the B section and if you do get one it’s on a Sunday or Monday every 3 months or so.
Old Guy says
Not a fan of Councilman Barbosa but complaining about Pennysaver delivery? How about the poor service by Waste Pro? Gimme a break!
Mark says
Best to just complain about all the things this council gets wrong. Let’s do another study.
Jc says
Take those large election signs down. It’s litter
Dennis says
Once a mistake, twice skipped is stealing. He should had been arrested. I guess he’s Special? He needs to resign now.
FINN says
This man has proven his lack of concern for laws rules and regulations .remember this when it’s time to vote .
Steve says
So This Village Idiot even takes the bait a second time on camera and with the same Item is caught red handed by Security with multiple witnesses. Now I knew this loud mouth bully was dumb and a liar but how low can you go.
These are the People you Elect.??
David Schaefer says
Another Trumper Humper he must go period…
NW says
Instead of blaming him as a Trump supporter, blame his actions.
The dude says
His “actions” come directly from being a trump supporter.
Entitled, obnoxious, lawlessness, useless… check, check, check, and check.
The Truth says
Perhaps rather than stealing clothing from Walmart, he can start taking down his county commissioner election signs that he put up way to early. I’m tired of seeing these election signs left up for months after elections or when a candidate drops out.
Percy's mother says
The signs are for an upcoming election . . . not a past election, and he hasn’t dropped out.
I do not believe there’s an ordinance prohibiting a candidate from putting up signs too early. Sour grapes maybe?
Just Saying says
Wrong again. He withdrew his candidacy for Commission and decided instead to re-run for his Council seat. The signs are for the Commission. They need to come down!
The dude says
He can run for the City Council and the County Commission at the same time?
Marie says
@ The dude says – no he cannot run for both. He withdrew his candidacy for Commission (county) and decided instead to run for reelection to his Council seat (city). That is why he needs to TAKE DOWN the campaign signs!
The dude says
(Rhetorical question. I knew this.)
Steve says
No He Resigned. Your posts havent aged well about Barbosa IMO
James says
Didn’t vote for him and not planning to, so don’t blame me for these losers in the PC Council and losers most of them are.
Ben Hogarth says
Everyone’s commenting about the “Village Idiot” – but if the village elects their idiot, what does that say about the village?
Putting the rhetoric to the wayside, imagine for a moment having so much privilege, you are given two (2) opportunities to commit the same crime – just to be sure you intended it the first time. I feel as if our entire judicial system needs an indictment against it.
As for Barbosa, should I be surprised? We see this sort of pattern of behavior in psychology all the time from men (and women) who feel as if their station in life is above others. I guarantee you that his attempted covert act was premised on an overt belief that he “deserves” to have more. He has run for public office, so we can only assume he has a high opinion of – his own opinions. Then, assessing his track record of words and actions we see he has a long history of subverting standard procedures and policies for his own agenda – however frivolous that may be.
If Palm Coast wants to continue being the laughing stock of Florida, keep electing fools who play on national political tropes rather than advance the community well being. The beautiful thing about Democracy is that “stupid” is a choice – make better choices.
Wow says
How low do you have to be to get thrown out of Walmart!
T says
Victor low lol
Common Man says
A thief, a liar and a bully. Apparent prerequisites for a seat in City Council. “The Road To Perdition” must run directly thru City Hall.
Once again, we’ll done Palm Coast voters!
Gas prices $5.00 says
He probably forgot to scan it!
So it is not okay to rob big business but it is okay for big business stealing people!
Michael Cocchiola says
I’ve been asked many times by prominent Republicans in Flagler County, “why don’t you find better candidates?”. So we run fine citizens like Pastor Sims Jones and Barbosa wins because Republicans voted for him en masse. They don’t care about character… only about party loyalty.
Let’s all go for character this time and vote for Sims Jones.
Skibum says
Barbosa has shown his true colors once again. And he is a LIAR, with the same criminal behavior as his infamous, twice impeached liar-in-chief that he so wholeheartedly adores. It would be one thing if he really did accidentally not scan the clothing item, but as documented by Walmart’s report that outlines their specific procedure to allow the customer to start from the beginning of the scanning process and rescan all of their items to be purchased, Bumbling Barbosa did the same thing and tried to sneak the clothing item through the self-scan purchase to avoid having to pay for it. Only after watching his theft occur real time TWICE did their loss protection officer step in and confront him. It was NO ACCIDENT, he is a THIEF. Now I wonder what he has been stealing from our city hall! I’d love to trespass him from our city council. Maybe voters will get a clue.
Lisa Schaefer says
I started reading Flagler Live because I am interested in possibly moving to Palm Coast.
The more I read conflicts about closing a restaurant at a golf course, drug dealers, shady councilman, political spins immediately applied to situations., the more I am questioning moving to this community. I will continue to research, but my guard is up.
The dude says
Run. Fast.
What you feel like you are seeing is true. You can believe your eyes.
This place is full of depraved, crappy people.
There’s nothing here that would make living in the middle of this worth while.
Without the canals, it’s just another Bunnell.
It doesn’t look like it will change anytime in the foreseeable future.
Mark says
Overall it’s nice, it’s the current Council giving it a bad name.
Percy's mother says
Lisa,
You don’t hear about all the people LEAVING Palm Coast and Flagler County. That’s kept quiet.
Continue to research, but I would be looking elsewhere. The area as a whole is trending to the lowest level of citizens and mentality. People move here and immediately start complaining about EVERYTHING. Loads of malcontents. Only too happy to trash the old time residents. Only too happy to complain about, “We need . . . fill in the blank . . . more shopping, more big box stores, more things to do, more restaurants . . . all the while complaining about all the things that make this area unique and quaint. If they’re so discontent about everything, why did they move here?
Also, loads of crime, which is only getting worse. My neighbor had her lawn mower stolen during the night, and that’s just down the street. You can’t leave anything out any more, otherwise, it’ll get taken. Don’t leave your garage door up either.
There are other things no one hears about.
Take a look at Celebration, Florida. A Disney planned community. Very nice. This place has lost its charm and is on the way to being just another low-class Florida town under the guise of being a “city”.
G A says
What is plainly obvious is that he didn’t want that particular item of clothing showing up on the receipt where (someone) could see it. Now…I wonder what kind of item of clothing would someone want to hide from (someone) who might just see that receipt? Buddy, you are screwed. She will figure it out.
Marie says
I like the way you think. The same thought crossed my mind .
tulip says
GA if Barbosa didn’t want a particular item to be seen on the receipt, he could have paid for the item in cash from his pocket and put the item into a separate bag. I’m glad to see him go and wish Lowe would resign as well as Danco and take their maggot hats with them.
Joe S says
Alan Lowe can’t resign because he was never elected to any office! Twice!!
But if my memory serves me, he was however: Caught stealing from the local gas station. Caught embezzling and jailed in Dominica. Caught not paying taxes by the IRS. Caught defrauding Sun Trust bank. Caught not paying off his BestBuy credit cards. Caught surrendering his USA citizenship because he hates paying for stuff. Hell this Alan Lowe fool forgot to vote for his entire life, including his time in incarceration. Victor was just caught stealing a Walmart T-shirt and he knew enough to cut bait and run…
148 says
That’s a scary thought that Lowe was even considered for any office in PC. He lost in 2020 and 2021 and now he’s running a third time. Enough is enough…
Let Freedom Ring says
It’s sad to see the direct impact the Democrats and the Biden administration have had on hard working citizens. Here’s a poor guy that’s forced to make ends meet by shoplifting clothing for his family. What do you expect with skyrocketing gas prices and inflation? These are tough times and will get tougher before we get a new administration. People are broke. Tough decisions like gas, food or clothing are being made by our community’s poorest. Every Biden voter owes us an apology. They should all chip in and help our needy families get through this self imposed crisis.
The dude says
This is satire, right?
Let Freedom Ring says
If satire will help pay at the pump, then sure. If not, we have a big problem.
TR says
I think he needs to take down his signs right away. Just because they are misleading.
Let me explain. He was running for a seat for FLAGLER COUNTY COMMISSIONER. (stated at the bottom of the signs) Then he decided no to follow that path and run for re-election for his seat on the PALM COAST CITY COUNCIL. A lot of people who see the signs still may think he wants the seat on the FLAGLER COUNTY COUNCIL. So they go to the polls and vote for him to have that seat and in all reality he gets re-elected for his PALM COAST CITY COUNCIL SEAT.
No matter what he needs to go and not get elected to any seat except the one in the court room to face all charges against him, may it be Flagler County/Palm Coast or Costa Rica.
PCresident says
This must be very embarrassing for him. We all know the truth. Does the city not pay enough?
Jim says
Not defending anyone, but numerous times we have shopped at Walmart and checked out with an associate. Upon arriving home have notice an item was “skip scanned”. Did the associate deliberately not scan one of our items or maybe the barcode didn’t work and they didn’t realize it? I don’t know about anyone else, but I would have been angry if I had to rescan all my items and could have not realized it didn’t scan. Maybe that’s the case maybe it isn’t, shame on him if he was trying to get away with something.
Paul Cook says
He did it, on film it is
To bad we have people like him in office…..VOTE NO TO VICKY
Your neighbor says
Why not! Liberals are not any better. Look what democrats are doing to USA and Ukraine
The dude says
What are they doing specifically?
Extra credit for citing your resources.
jnlocal says
Barbosa announced he was dropping out of his run for county commissioner at the last City Council meeting on February 15 and would be running for re-election to City Council instead. Voters, be aware.
The dude says
“Not defending anyone… but…”
A couple ya’ll here are really hilarious.
“I’m sure it was simple oversight, twice, with the same article… or the scanner was broke… or the barcode was messed up…”
This is why he’s on the city council. Because of you.
Maybe read up on Occams Razor.
Independed Immigrant says
It is interesting how ready liberals are to attack a conservatives for one item that he might forgot to scan it but they are okay when liberals robing all over the BLUE STATES!
If I have to choose between two crooked candidates I’ll rather vote for a crooked conservatives than a crooked liberal!
The dude says
Clearly.
Concerned Citizen says
Isn’t it interesting how constituents just finally get tired of all the BS?
We’ve been putting up with nonsense from this Council for years. And it gets tiresome. And as far as “might forgot”? He did it twice on camera. Twice is intentional. He only got a break because of who he was.
Fredrick says
Boy…. I haven’t seen FlaglerLive let the comments roll like this since we had Kimmie recording people without their knowledge.
Alonzo says
WOW, a Repub. Tickles me. I’m so glad. Why would anybody vote Repub, I’m glad they caught him, he isn’t African American. Makes me sooo happy.
Mark says
If you look at our border, inflation, crime and our foreign policy you will see why we vote for republicans.
Alonzo says
What was done in a positive way when T. was the Pres? Don’t know any positive things the Repubs, did for the people of this country. Tell me what the Repubs, did.
Vance says
I don’t think the moral of the story is bad Republican good Democrat it’s bad people do bad things and we must all hold each of them accountable for what they do regardless of political leaning.
Dolo says
Barbosa withdrew from County commission race, weeks ago. When is he required to remove his signage littering swales, hope he’s off the ballot.How can law enforcement not be able to deep dive to confirm or deny the alleged Costa Rican law problems with Victor Barbosa, Palm Coast councilman or an evil name twin.Absurd but true
Jey stone says
I believe anyone caught intentionally breaking laws charges are fit to be served I also believe that Walmart should allow $10 for every $100 spent worth of credit. And a second chance is not valid unless warning is given after violation not by an assumed technical malfunction unknowingly set therefore no warning no second chance to be called as given as to correct. Trespass is not theft and public trespass not violated unless trespassing after warned and warning of trespassing based upon shoplift that never happened what does it all mean? What sense? I yet wonder what clothing item anyone know? I’m guessing underwear.