Fired employee charged with assaulting owner in Ocoee parking lot

OCOEE  An officer from Ocoee Police Department responded at about 6:55 p.m. April 19 to the Walmart on West Colonial Drive, where George Sierra said a fired employee had tried to run him over with a car.

Sierra said 26-year-old Bronx, New York, transient Derek Palacios had broken into Sierra's business and stolen around $30,000 worth of equipment, along with issuing threats to harm Sierra.

Sierra said he had noticed Palacios leaving Walmart at the same time he had left, so he had followed Palacios to get his vehicle's tag number. While Sierra returned to his vehicle, Palacios cut through the parking lot, speeding in a direct path toward him, he said.

In an attempt to dodge the car, Sierra said he had pushed his cart toward the car and jumped backward, which caused the car to knock the cart toward Sierra and cut his right leg. Palacios then sped out of the lot, Sierra said.

Sierra was limping, so the officer had Fire Rescue personnel treat his injury. Sierra pointed out another vehicle with damage from the altercation.

At that point, another officer said Palacios had flagged down the officer at the Ocoee 7-Eleven on West Colonial Drive. Palacios accused Sierra of pushing the cart into his car. Unlike Sierra, Palacios said he did not wish to press charges.

Officers reviewed security footage, which they said showed the men having a short conversation while walking to their cars. They walked to the far end of the lot, where the sun made it difficult to see, before Palacios drove through the lot in an indirect route of exit toward Sierra, according to reports.

Officers had Palacios' vehicle towed and charged him with aggravated battery with a motor vehicle. They took him to Orange County Jail, where he has been held on a $5,000 bond.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].