Man dead after St. Augustine bar disturbance

Man, 39, found in bar with stab wound; Man with knife questioned, released

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – One man is dead and another man hurt after a fight at a St. Augustine bar late Thursday night.

Detectives with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office responded to the Crow Bar, located off State Road 16, east of Interstate 95, just before 11:30 p.m. in reference to a disturbance.

Scott Kerins, 45, was found standing outside the bar holding a knife, according to deputies. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.

Deputies said they found 39-year-old Rickie Starling, of Fernandina Beach, in the bar with an apparent wound on his leg. Starling was taken to Flagler Hospital, where he died.

Kerins was questioned about the incident and released.

"He was never in our custody," said Sgt. Catherine Payne. "He came to the Sheriff's Office on his own accord. He was interviewed about the incident but was released because we have no probable cause that a crime occurred."

The incident is still under investigation. The manner and cause of Sterling's death will be released pending an autopsy, deputies said.

Detectives said they don't know how the fight started.

"We had cop cars from this side to the other side of the bar," said Kimberly Danford, who lives next to the bar. "There must have been 15 cars and then we had rescue. I'd seen them bring him out on the stretcher."

Danford said she was inside the bar before the fight broke out and was surprised to hear what happened.

"SInce I've been here, I have not seen nothing like that happen," she said. "It's really a small little town bar, and I never seen nothing like that happen around here."