A homeless man in Eustis was arrested for attempted murder after a near-fatal stabbing at Ferran Park.
Two diners were parked at El Marie Pizzaria and Sub Shoppe, located at 200 Bay St., when they saw a man screaming for help around 12:55 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Eustis Police Department. This man, the victim, was headed toward Ferran Park, located at 250 Ferran Park Dr., and being chased by 32-year-old James Edward Thompson.
A female parkgoer and her friend were visiting the park when the victim approached them asking for medical assistance. He had been beaten by Thompson for no specific reason and was bleeding from his nose, the report said.
The parkgoer instructed him to sit on a bench just east of the fountain while they waited for medical services. At this time, she saw Thompson walking toward the victim. He then sped up and ran directly toward the victim, who saw him and ran southbound. They began fighting in the grassy area just south of the fountain with Thompson on top of the victim, the report said.
Her friend later noticed the victim was bleeding as Thompson fled eastbound on Magnolia Avenue. A nurse employed at Bay Pharmacy, who was on her lunch break at the park, heard people yelling about the victim bleeding and ran to assist due to her medical background. Officers were on scene at the point and found the victim seated on a park bench, slouch forward with his head down, the report said.
Blood pooled on the ground directly beneath him, and the nurse applied pressure to the top of his head where blood was actively dripping. He had a laceration about an inch to the left side of his temple that was consistent with a knife. He confirmed he had been stabbed about four times, and the officer observed two small cuts on the back of his blue jacket, the report said.
The victim was subsequently taken by air to Orlando Regional Medical Center, located at 52 W Underwood St., Orlando, with life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, officers canvassed the area surrounding the park for Thompson. Part of this search led to Open Door, a LifeStream mental health service located at 115 Citrus Ave., the report said.
An officer then found a red flannel blanket that was seen being worn by Thompson prior to the stabbing. Law enforcement determined he had shed clothing in front of Marry Jewelers, put clothes in a trashcan at the intersection of North Eustis Street and East Magnolia Avenue, and left a hat under a truck along East Magnolia Avenue, the report said.
While at Open Door, a witness advised that Thompson had come in with blood on his hands and thought he was hurt. She tried to help him, which was when he left the blanket and put his shirt and gloves in a trashcan. These items were later recovered with blood on them, the report said.
During the investigation, officers visited the victim in the hospital and learned he was stable. Hospital staff advised that he had been stabbed nine times and suffered extensive blood loss. The victim did not wish to prosecute, although he did not know who attacked him, the report said.
It was not until 8:25 p.m. that officers with the Leesburg Police Department got a call about a suspicious man going through a homeowner’s backyard. Knowing the EPD was searching for Thompson, they began to canvass the area for him. The homeowner then called again to say Thompson had battered him, the report said.
The officers responded to the scene and met with the homeowner who had copious amounts of blood on his head and clothes. He had a hole in the front right side of his head from where the blood was coming from, and a gauze compress was used immediately to prevent more blood loss, the report said.
The homeowner advised that Thompson came back to his residence while he was sitting on the front porch. Thompson became agitated, struck him with an object on the head and ran off toward Thomas Avenue. The object was determined to be a black wooden table leg with a screw sticking out of it, the report said.
EMS ultimately arrived on scene and stated the homeowner would be a trauma alert due to the severity of the injury to his head and skull. He was flown to a local hospital, too, the report said.
Paramedics were attending to him when another resident on Virginia Avenue advised that Thompson was at her front door. An officer spotted him, drew his taser and ordered him to lay on the ground. He did so and was placed under arrest, the report said.
Thompson was later taken to the LPD for booking where he was handcuffed and shackled. These were removed so he could use the restroom, but once finished, he refused to comply with an officer’s orders. Thompson pushed past him and took on an aggressive posture when told to get on the ground again, the report said.
The officer ultimately tased him in the abdomen and right thigh, causing him to fall backward. After that, he was handcuffed once more, the report said.
Thompson was charged with attempted murder (1st degree), aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, simple battery (law enforcement officer, firefighter and EMT) and resisting (obstruct without violence). He was transported to Lake County Jail to be held without bond.