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Florida man accused of beating ex-girlfriend, good Samaritan arrested in Lake County

Jose Chaidez wanted for Sept. 23 incident at convenience store

HAINES CITY, Fla. – A man accused of beating his former girlfriend and then severely beating another man who tried to intervene was arrested in Lake County, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said on Wednesday that Jose Chaidez, 35, was arrested for the attacks, which happened at the J and S Food Mart on East Hinson Avenue in Haines City on Sept. 23.

Deputies said Chaidez is seen on camera slapping the woman at the store with a butcher knife, striking her and pulling her by the hair. They said a man saw what was happening and tried to stop Chaidez, who overpowered the man and beat him unconscious.

Jose Chaidez. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Later Wednesday afternoon, Lake County deputies said they were gathering to look for Chaidez when a call came in from a Publix employee near U.S. Highway 27 and Citrus Tower Boulevard in Clermont.

Deputies said they learned from the caller that a “suspicious male” was at the store’s customer service counter, trying to use the telephone and “acting nervously.”

According to investigators, the man was discovered to be Chaidez, and he was taken into custody outside of the store.

The good Samaritan is still in the hospital recovering, and the woman is in critical condition at a hospital but is expected to recover, the sheriff’s office said.

He faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, armed burglary with battery, burglary with battery, criminal mischief and stalking.

The sheriff’s office said Chaidez is being booked into the Lake County jail and will be brought to Polk County.

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