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Lake City man arrested for knocking out co-worker at football game concession stand

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Pharoah Elijah Baker, 24, was arrested yesterday morning after allegedly attacking a co-worker at a football game concession stand, knocking him out.

At about 10:58 a.m., a University of Florida Police Department officer responded to the concession office at Gate 17 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, where the victim was holding a bag of ice over his eye. The victim reportedly said that while working at a concession stand, he was attacked by Baker, a co-worker. The victim said he did not recall the whole incident but said Baker was upset about working that specific concession stand. He said he lost consciousness and woke up to find another co-worker pulling Baker off him. The officer reported that the victim had a black eye, a chipped tooth, and swelling and redness in his face; the victim was evaluated by EMS and transported to a hospital for treatment.

Three witnesses reportedly identified Baker as the primary aggressor in the incident.

Baker has been charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm. He has been arrested several times in Columbia County, including a misdemeanor conviction for trespass after warning and several burglary and property damage charges that were later dropped. Judge Robert Groeb ordered him released on his own recognizance.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

  • Judge Groeb usually sets good bonds. However if you look at most of his cases in the recent past they are pretty much ROR at this point. A felony battery with an ROR? Come on now. If that victim would have been a somebody there would have been at least a monetary bond. What’s going on judge?

  • He was working a stadium filled with thousands of people. Could have been serving your little boy or little girl, your wife, sister, or mother. Will someone please explain why they allow people like this around others?

      • Don’t need to.
        If I did, I wouldn’t have the tribal mentality he did.
        If I were to encounter someone like him and I felt my life was threatened, I’d make sure he wouldn’t have a 1st appearance.

        Thanks for your concern about my financial condition though. We’ve had several bad years of high inflation; what’s a soda or beer cost in the stadium nowadays?

        • You’re missing the point.
          No one qualified for anything wants a job where co-workers attack you. Its a catch-22. You cant draw anyone because of the job, but the job is so crappy because you cant draw decent employees.

    • You ask the question “Will someone please explain why they allow people like this around others?”

      I know math is hard, but try to follow along.

      The vendor needed 100 temporary employees for the game.

      The vendor hired EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO APPLIED who was a White, male, hetero, Evangelical Christian, Springs County resident, MAGA Republican, NRA life member, PhD in rocket science with a FBI background check and a Top Secret clearance.

      After that, the vendor still had 100 positions to fill.

      • I guess you being an idiot disqualified you as well.
        Good for you the City is hiring downtown ambassadors.

  • “The victim said he did not recall the whole incident but said Baker was upset about working that specific concession stand.” So which concession stand did he expect to work at, and why was he so violently upset that he didn’t get it? Was it about drugs, sex, money or just unrestrained childishness?

    • I’ve worked concessions in the past to raise money for my children’s school programs. Some of the stands make great tip money now that there is alcohol sales. And some stands don’t make good tip money.

      I’d bet that’s what this is about – the perp wanted to work a money-making stand and didn’t get that stand, and the victim did.

      The whole atmosphere in concessions is very-carney-like.

  • It sounds like he should be banned from future sporting events at UF. You almost have to feel sorry for him, with parents who named him Pharoah and probably raised him to feel and act very entitled.

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