Winter Garden cop breaks knee cap during struggle with shoplifting suspect

WINTER GARDEN  A Victoria’s Secret shoplifting incident turned violent Tuesday, Feb. 21, when a Winter Garden Police officer’s left knee cap was broken during a struggle with the suspect.

According to police reports, 23-year-old Algernon Baker and 28-year-old Chris Lema were teaming up to shoplift at different stores in the Winter Garden Village shopping center. 

Winter Garden Police Officer Jose Rivera approached Baker as he was taking several items from Victoria’s Secret to Lema’s car, which the pair was using.

Police then heard Rivera’s broken-up radio calls for backup around 1:30 p.m., during which he was struggling to get on the radio. According to the report, Baker was violently resisting Rivera and trying to prevent him from using his radio.

When backup officers arrived on the scene, they found Rivera struggling with the 5-foot-6 inch, 300-pound man. It took three officers to apprehend him. 

Rivera was transported to Florida Hospital Winter Garden, where he was treated for injuries to both knees and a bite on his right thumb, from Baker.

Police say that about $768 worth of Victoria’s Secret merchandise alone was recovered.

Baker and Lema were charged with aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer, third-degree grand theft and resisting an officer with violence. 

Baker was booked into the Orange County Jail on bonds totaling $10,400 and Lema on bonds totaling $1,750, but records show both have since been released. 

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].