A Groveland woman out on bond for a battery case was arrested this past week for allegedly threatening to harm the same victim outside Family Dollar.
On the evening of Jan. 7, officers with the Mascotte Police Department met with the female victim at Family Dollar, located at 279 E. Myers Blvd., regarding a harassment complaint, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County. A few minutes prior, she was leaving the store after buying helium balloons when she was confronted by 42-year-old Joni Diane Deleon in the parking lot just outside the store’s entrance.
Deleon approached the victim and began yelling about her ex-boyfriend. She snatched the balloons from the victim’s hands while demanding to know if she bought them for him. Shen then raised her hand as if to hit the victim, the affidavit said.
Deleon started to walk away, and the victim advised that she would be calling law enforcement. The victim alleged that Deleon responded with a verbal threat, saying she was going to “get it” if she called the police, the report said.
The surrounding area was canvassed extensively, but Deleon was not found. The affidavit noted there was an active no victim contact order wherein the victim was a protected person against Deleon. This was put in place upon Deleon being arrested for felony battery against the victim.
Deleon was ultimately arrested this past week at the Lake County Courthouse on a warrant charging her with violation of pretrial release and witness tampering. She was transported to Lake County Jail to be held without bond.