Cheryl Persall was arrested and charged with Filing a False Report, False Official Statement, and Grand Theft.
The investigation began this morning at approximately 4:12 a.m. when deputies responded to the toll plaza located at SR 417 southeast of I-4. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the alleged victim, Cheryl Persall, who indicated she works at the toll plaza.
Earlier in the evening at 9:15 p.m., she was driving to work when she was pulled over by who she thought was an undercover law enforcement officer. The traffic stop occurred west of Westside Blvd. on Florence Villa Grove Road.
Persall told deputies she exited her vehicle and approached the alleged undercover law enforcement officer when he pulled out a handgun, pointed it at her head, and demand she go to work and bring him back money from the toll plaza.
Persall left the traffic stop, went to the toll plaza and took approximately $9,450 dollars, and returned to Florence Villa Grove Road to give the alleged suspect the money and her cell phone. She went back to the toll plaza and called law enforcement.
Deputies went to the area where she indicated she left the money and her cell phone. They located a black garbage bag but did not find the money. After further investigation, detectives discovered Persall made up the story and took the money.
She told detectives she was behind on her bills and needed the money. Deputies went to where she told them she left the money and they recovered it. Based on her statements, Persall was arrested and booked into the Osceola County Jail.