Pregnant mom says sandwich arrest was 'horrifying'

HONOLULU (AP) - October 31, 2011 (WPVI) -- A pregnant mother says she was traumatized by a "horrifying" ordeal at a Honolulu supermarket last week when she and her husband were arrested for stealing sandwiches and had their 2-year-old daughter taken into state custody.

Nicole Leszczynski sobbed Monday as she recounted what started as a family trip to the Safeway supermarket. The 30-weeks pregnant Leszczynski munched on a chicken salad sandwich while shopping, but forgot to pay for it.

The couple was arrested after they paid $50 for groceries, but not two sandwiches.

Their daughter was taken away for 18 hours. The couple, who recently moved to Hawaii from Monterey, Calif., was released on $50 bail each.

Safeway told KHON-TV that it "may not have handled this matter in the best possible way."

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