Women arrested for attacking disabled man at GRACE Marketplace

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Minleshia Renee Janece Jackson, 31, and Rocio Medina Celi, 41, were arrested yesterday after allegedly attacking a 69-year-old man at GRACE Marketplace.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that the victim said he had a medical emergency in the night shelter and asked an unidentified man to move his bicycle out of the doorway so he could get help. The victim said the man did not move the bicycle, so he pushed it out of the doorway with his walker and the man picked him up by his feet, slammed him on the ground, and started hitting him. The victim said he didn’t remember what happened after that.

The officer reported that an employee at GRACE said she saw the unidentified man slam the victim to the ground and start hitting him. She said that while the victim was on the ground, Jackson walked over and kicked the victim; the employee said the victim curled up in the fetal position to protect himself and Medina Celi started arguing with the victim. She said Medina Celi got out of her bed, walked over to the victim, and swung at him; the first swing missed, but then Medina Celi allegedly punched the victim multiple times. The employee said the victim grabbed Medina Celi in an attempt to defend himself, pulling Medina Celi’s dress down.

A second witness, who was inside the building and had a partial view of the incident, said she saw the victim pull Medina Celi’s dress down, but she didn’t see Medina Celi hit the victim.

Post Miranda, Jackson reportedly said she did not hit the victim.

Post Miranda, Medina Celi reportedly said she did not hit the victim, but the victim hit her. She said the victim left bruises on her arms, but the officer reported that he did not see any bruises on her arms.

Jackson, who told court officials she has been in the area for two weeks, has been charged with attempted battery on a person over 65 years of age. She has one felony conviction (non-violent) and one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent) and is on probation. She was arrested on March 18 for violating probation and released on her own recognizance a few hours later. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $50,000 on the new charge and prohibited her from returning to GRACE Marketplace.

Medina Celi, who told court officials she has been in the area for one week, has one misdemeanor conviction (non-violent) and a pending Notice to Appear out of Volusia County for camping on public property. Judge Van Vorst set bail at $60,000 and prohibited her from returning to GRACE Marketplace.

Medina Celi’s name is also listed as Rocio Celi Medina in court records.

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.