LAKELAND, Fla. – Lakeland Police have made an arrest in the felony battery of a convenience store employee that took place on Friday, January 29, 2021.
Mandel Baker, 35, has been charged with Felony Battery with Great Bodily Harm.
On Friday, January 29, 2021, at approximately 5:36 p.m., officers were called to the Food Mart/Mobil Gas Station, located at 1615 West Memorial Boulevard.
Inside they found an adult male motionless on the floor with a laceration to the head.
According to a witness, a man, later identified as Baker, had been in the store just prior asking for cigarettes. Baker had asked the store clerk to give him cigarettes for payment at a later date.
The clerk denied Baker’s request. Baker then approached another store employee with the same request, and he was denied again. Baker then ran toward the employee punching him in the face. The victim, age 58, fell back and hit his head on the hard floor surface, sustaining critical life-threatening injuries.
He was transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment. At the last update, the victim remains in critical condition.
Using surveillance footage and citizen tips submitted through Crime Stoppers Florida, Baker was identified and arrested on Saturday, January 30, 2021.
If you have additional information related to this case, please contact Detective Biko Duhaney at biko.duhaney@lakelandgov.net or (863) 834-5918.
Or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida:
* Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477)
* From your cell phone, dial **TIPS
* Or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
* Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers, and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
Good catch. Crucifixion should pay for the damages.