Hillsborough medical examiner's investigator arrested on theft charge

TAMPA — An investigator for the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office was arrested Monday, accused of trying to steal more than $700 in groceries from Publix.

Jennifer Hope Davis, 37, was charged with grand theft, according to an arrest warrant. She was arrested shortly after noon Monday at the medical examiner's office.

The alleged theft happened Friday afternoon at the Publix at 6434 U.S. 41 in Apollo Beach. Davis loaded a shopping cart with $718.36 in groceries, then walked out of the store without paying for them, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Publix employees stopped her outside the store.

After she was stopped, Davis complained of unspecified "medical ailments," according to an arrest report. An ambulance arrived and took her to a local hospital. Authorities obtained a warrant for her arrest over the weekend. She was booked into the Hillsborough County jail on Monday afternoon and released a few hours later after posting $2,500 bail.

Davis has worked for the medical examiner since June 2012, said Robert Salmon, the office's manager of operations. She is one of seven full-time investigators there who gather and examine information in death investigations.

The agency could not say Monday if Davis would be suspended from her job. Hillsborough County's human resources department will review the incident.