Retired FL Cop Arrested After Making Threats Over Parking Ticket At Publix: Sheriff

LAKELAND, FL — A retired Lakeland police officer was arrested Dec. 30 after threatening a Polk County Sheriff’s Office volunteer over a parking ticket at the Publix on County Road 540A, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

Marcus Baker, 60, was charged with corruption by threat to a public servant and assault on a law enforcement officer, PCSO said.

Baker previously worked as a Polk County deputy from 1995 to 2005. He then became a police officer with the Lakeland Police Department and retired in 2021.

A 75-year-old sheriff’s service officer saw Baker’s car parked in a clearly marked fire lane with a posted “No Parking” sign outside the Publix on Dec. 30, the sheriff’s office said.

Sheriff’s service officers, while a volunteer role, are issued uniforms and drive marked PCSO vehicles.

The car was unoccupied and running, and had its emergency flashers on. About 15 minutes later, Baker left the store and began loading groceries into his car.

Baker initially refused, but eventually complied, when the officer asked him for his driver’s license.

He gave the officer several excuses for parking in the fire lane, including not feeling well, having a sick dog, and having diabetes, the sheriff’s office said. Baker also repeatedly told the officer that he was former law enforcement.

After the officer issued a traffic citation for parking in a fire lane, Baker began yelling and gesturing with his hands, and threatened to harm him, follow him home, and track him, PCSO said.

Baker followed the officer to his PCSO vehicle, putting him “in fear of imminent violence,” the sheriff’s office said. The volunteer contacted a deputy for assistance.

Baker went back to his car, made a U-turn and slowly drove by the officer’s patrol vehicle “in an intimidating manner,” deputies said. He then made another U-turn and left the parking lot before deputies arrived.

A witness collecting shopping carts reported hearing yelling and told deputies that Baker was aggressive and confrontational. Another witness told investigators that she had previously seen Baker park in the fire lane multiple times.

When contacted later by deputies, Baker admitted to being involved in a verbal confrontation but initially denied parking in the fire lane or making threats, the sheriff’s office said. He later acknowledged parking illegally and said he could not recall his exact statements.

“We expect our law enforcement officers and retired law enforcement officers to set a proper example through their lawful and appropriate behavior. He set the wrong example. We set the right example by holding him accountable,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.

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