[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 06/04/20]
LEESBURG, Florida — A man accused of stabbing his roommate with a pair of scissors is behind bars, facing a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to the 34000 block of Carl Road after a man reported his roommate, Richard William Syarto, 67, stabbed him, according to an arrest affidavit. The roommate told the deputy he was sitting outside when Syarto came out and accused him of stealing; he became increasingly aggravated and said he was going to “bash his head in.”
Syarto allegedly armed himself with a pair of scissors and tried to stab his roommate in the torso, but the man blocked Syarto and pushed him off; the roommate was cut on his arm and head during the altercation. A third roommate told the deputy Syarto threatened to kill the victim and tried to stab him in the chest, but the victim was able to push him off while he yelled at Syarto. Syarto then threw the scissors down and went to his bedroom.
All three roommates appeared to be intoxicated, the deputy noted in the affidavit. The victim was taken to AdventHealth Waterman to evaluate his injuries and Syarto was taken to the Lake County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
