ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A 53-year-old St. Augustine man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and battery Monday after an off-duty police officer foiled an attempted stabbing, according to the St. Augustine Police Department.
Police said about 4:45 p.m. Monday Sgt. Jason Etheredge, who was off duty, was driving on Ponce De Leon Boulevard when he saw two men near Oyster Creek in the beginning stages of a fight. Etheredge saw one of the men, Paul Milar, pull a knife from his waist area. Police said Etheredge quickly pulled his truck over and saw Milar attempt to stab the other man, 43-year-old Thomas Warden of St. Augustine.
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Etheredge jumped out of his truck with his duty weapon and badge, identified himself as a police officer and ordered Milar to the ground, police said. Milar complied and Etheredge asked a passerby to call 911 while he kept Milar on the ground.
Police said other officers arrived and took over the investigation, which revealed that Milar and Warden had a verbal altercation and that Milar kicked Warden in the stomach, pulled out the knife and attempted to strike Warden in the chest but missed. That is when Etheredge intervened.
Milar was arrested, charged and booked into the St. Johns County Jail on $9,000 bond.