A resident of the Spruce Creek Del Webb community in Summerfield has been ordered into anger management after pointing a gun at a fellow resident over politics.
James Robert Baker Jr., 67, has been ordered to complete a 10-week anger management course after pleading no contest this past week in Marion County Court to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery on a person over the age of 65. He has also been placed on probation and must perform 200 hours of community service.
Baker was driving a golf cart through the 55+ community on March 15 when he said he drove past a residence and heard a man screaming, “Republicans suck,” according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The 69-year-old man told deputies he was simply in his garage talking to himself.
After hearing the derogatory declaration, Baker turned around his golf cart and pulled into the other man’s driveway. Baker pointed a gun at the man and slapped him, causing him to fall to the ground. The incident was captured on video surveillance. Baker fled, but deputies were able to track him down at his home, in part thanks to a bright green T-shirt he was wearing, emblazoned with the letters, “SCGCC Pickleball Club.”
When questioned, Baker said he “never intended” to shoot the other man.
Baker’s wife allowed deputies to search the golf cart and they recovered the gun, a black Taurus .357 Magnum revolver.