WABASSO — A 31-year-old Wabasso man turned himself into authorities Tuesday evening on a warrant for aggravated battery stemming from an argument over stolen drug paraphernalia that took place Monday.
Vall Phillip Stover, of 81st Street, is being held at the county jail on $25,000 bail on a felony charge of aggravated battery. The Sheriff’s Office spent Monday afternoon searching for Stover, using a helicopter and K-9 units in the area of the Wabasso Post Office after the stabbing victim called for help at a nearby business.
The victim suffered wounds to his left arm, left cheek and above his left eye, the Sheriff’s Office said. He was treated and released from Indian River Medical Center.
According to the victim, he was on the porch of Stover’s home Monday when they began arguing over stolen drug paraphernalia. During the argument, the victim said Stover was holding a knife behind his back and that Stover swung the knife at him, catching him in the face and arm.
The victim described the knife as a “movie prop-type” that looked like it had brass knuckles attached, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The victim ran from Stover to a neighbor’s residence to call 911 only to find that the neighbor did not have a phone, he told authorities. He then ran to a nearby business to report the stabbing.
A witness to the argument told authorities that he did not see a knife and thought Stover had only punched the victim.
Investigators showed the victim a photo lineup, in which the victim picked out Stover, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Upon his arrest, Stover declined to make any statements to the Sheriff’s Office, according to the arrest report.