Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mitchell Kenneth Baran, 34, was booked into the Alachua County Jail yesterday after previously being arrested in Minnesota; he has been charged with making a written threat to kill and petit theft.
Baran had reportedly been staying with a relative in Gainesville for about a month, but after an argument on May 18, the relative told him to leave her house and never return. Baran reportedly went to his bedroom, locked the door, and later left through his bedroom window.
The next day, he allegedly started texting the relative, saying, “I’m going to kill you.” When the relative said he could come pick up his clothes when she was off work, he allegedly responded, “I’m going to kill you.” She reportedly responded that, given the threat, she would not feel safe with him at her house and told him he could buy whatever he needed for the week. Baran allegedly responded, “You shouldn’t feel safe, I’m going to kill you.”
Another relative attempted to intervene, telling Baran to stop making threats and advising the other relative to help him get his belongings from her residence.