NewsCitrus, Hernando County

Actions

'Willing to kill someone': Deputies arrest suspect who cut victim's face with knife

Steven Slattery
Posted
and last updated

HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies arrested a suspect who fled after he cut a victim's face with a knife last Saturday.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to a home on Treehaven Drive in Spring Hill around 2:15 a.m. on July 20.

The caller told a 911 operator that a man knocked on their door to ask for help. When the caller looked out the window, the caller saw the victim with a "really bad gash" on his face.

When deputies arrived, they found the victim in the caller's yard with a severe gash to the side of his face. He was also bleeding "profusely."

The victim told deputies he was at 39-year-old Steven Slattery's home at 6610 Treehaven Drive to visit a woman who lived there. While there, he said Slattery began accusing him and others in the home of stealing his money and illegal narcotics.

The victim attempted to calm Slattery down, but he said Slattery then got a knife and cut the victim's face. During the altercation, Slattery allegedly made comments about "not being afraid to go back to prison" and that he was willing to kill someone.

The victim then fled from the home and went to the neighbor's house to ask for help. Hernando County Fire Rescue transported him to a local hospital, where deputies said he will recover.

Deputies said Slattery fled the area immediately after the incident. He was located and arrested on July 24.


ABC Action News Mugshot Policy

When a mugshot is used
If the person is still on the loose and a potential threat to the community; if there is a good chance that showing the suspect would help identify additional victims or otherwise protect the public from a serious threat or if the crime or the suspect is of such a significant note that seeing them in a mugshot is in the greater public interest.

Using previous mugshots
Only if the story is specifically talking about that previous crime

We do not show mugshots of victims

This policy started in early 2021


Bank finally endorses Florida man's hurricane insurance check after we shared his story

Hurricane Milton left a St. Pete man’s property under water. But when he went to cash his insurance check, the bank refused to cash it. Investigative Reporter Katie LaGrone shares an update.

Bank finally endorses FL’s man hurricane insurance check after we shared his story