Man Arrested For Pulling Box Knife, Victims Defend With Mace and Broom

Oklahoma City police arrested a man for threatening a laundry mat employee and a witness with a box knife in northwest Oklahoma City. Authorities say the victims defended themselves with mace and a broom.

Cimeron Leyba, 22, entered the Coin Laundry at 3345 N.W. 23rd Street Saturday night asking customers for a ride. When no one agreed to help, Leyba became aggressive.

According to the police report, Keisha Thomas, Coin Laundry employee, repeatedly asked Leyba to leave. After a heated exchange between the employee and suspect, Leyba pulled out a box knife and began to make threatening comments towards Keisha, who held a broom up in preparation to defend herself.

Witness Tyler Milligan stepped in to assist Keisha by spraying the suspect with mace three times. Milligan ordered Leyba "to get on the ground and not to move." Leyba obeyed the demand and remained on the ground until police arrived.

Leyba was booked in the Oklahoma County Jail under charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Police learned Leyba had previously been convicted of burglary II and attempted burglary with a dangerous weapon in 2011.