Detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 22 year-old Joshua Pena-Cedillo of Clearwater on charges of Aggravated Battery and Petit Theft.
The incident occurred on November 2, 2019 at about 5:35 p.m. at the Circle A Food Store located at 1201 Sunset Point Boulevard in unincorporated Clearwater.
Detectives say that Pena-Cedillo, while wearing a large hooded winter coat with a gray face cover, he entered the store, selected several food items and concealed them in his coat. The victim attempted to stop Pena from leaving the store and a struggle ensued exposing Pena-Cedillo’s face. Pena-Cedillo produced a folding pocket knife and struck the victim in the head while the knife was closed. Pena-Cedillo fled the scene and was not located.
The victim was taken to the hospital where he was treated for a non-life threatening injury to his head.
According to investigators, the victim later recognized Pena-Cedillo and notified the sheriff’s office. Through various investigative techniques, detectives were able to identify him as the battery suspect.
Detectives charged him with Aggravated Battery and Petit Theft. He was already in-custody at the Pinellas County Jail for his arrest on April 23, 2020 by the Clearwater Police Department for Animal Cruelty.
The information on that crime, killing a family pet, was documented in an earlier article HERE.