Police: Man steals woman's iPhone while she helped friend in cardiac arrest

Alachua County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Shaquille Simmons

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Police in Gainesville say a theft suspect stooped pretty low Monday when he stole a woman's iPhone while she was rendering medial aid to a man in cardiac arrest.

Officers said the man collapsed at the shopping plaza at 2500 N. Main St. They said his two friends immediately rendered first aid to him until rescuers arrived.

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The woman who was helping the man had to lay her iPhone on the ground while she was treating him, police said. They said once rescuers arrived, she realized her phone was missing.

She gave officers a description of two men she saw in the area while she was helping the man.

Officers stopped them and suspected that Shaquille Simmons was the one who stole the woman's phone. Police said Simmons denied the accusation, and then officers requested that the victim call her phone. Police said Simmons' pocket began to ring.

Once officers reclaimed the phone, Simmons began shouting racial slurs toward the officers, police said. He was arrested and taken to jail on a grand theft charge.

"The Gainesville Police Department extends our sincere thanks to this female that selflessly offered emergency medical aid to her downed friend," GPD said in a statement. "We are glad that we could capture and arrest someone that would stoop so low as to steal from you while you were being a hero."