He told the 911 operator everything was OK, cops say. He’s charged with attempted murder
A Lake Worth man walked into a neighbor’s home via the front door and stabbed the senior citizen resident with kitchen knives, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office says.
Past arrest records put Sergio Quintero’s home in the same 7700 block of Rockport Circle as the neighbor. For now, the 61-year-old Quintero stays at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Department of Corrections’ Main Detention Center on charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older and resisting an officer without violence.
PBCSO didn’t give Quintero’s motivation for walking through an unlocked front door and arguing with his neighbor. It did say Quintero “grabbed various kitchen knives” and began stabbing.
His victim dialed 911, PBCSO said, but Quintero got hold of the phone, told the 911 caller all was well and no attention was necessary.
“Minutes later, deputies arrived, discovering Quintero was attempting to discard evidence items out the back door,” PBCSO said. “Quintero attempted to run back into the house, where deputies took him into custody.”
Inside the house, they also found the stabbed and slashed victim, who was in serious but stable condition as of Sunday evening.
Quintero wasn’t granted bond on the attempted murder charge. What’s already his second 2020 visit to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office jail has lasted longer than his first.
A week earlier, Jan. 10, Florida Highway Patrol troopers say during a traffic stop, Quintero shifted into reverse instead of park and backed that Nissan up into an FHP cruiser.
“The driver then got out and sat in the rear passenger seat,” the arrest report says.
Troopers smelled alcohol and found a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label riding in the passenger seat. Quintero had a Florida Identification card, but not a driver’s license. He blew a 0.249 and a 0.255 blood alcohol level, each one just over three times the legal limit.
He was booked on charges of DUI and driving on a suspended license-habitual offender. Palm Beach County Court records say 15 times Quintero has been ticketed or arrested for traffic violations in the last 10 years.
