KEY WEST — A 37-year-old man accused of getting into an argument on Christmas Day with another liveaboard and stabbing him was arrested, according to police.
Justin Roscoe Schmidt was charged with first-degree felony aggravated battery, which carries a maximum punishment of 30 years in state prison upon conviction.
The man who was stabbed was treated and released at Lower Keys Medical Center after receiving two staples to a chest wound, reports say.
The injured man told police he had been drinking with Schmidt before he told Schmidt he needed to be up the next morning for work. Schmidt suggested they go to a hotel room he had acquired in town, reports say.
Back near the dinghy docks at Key West Bight, the man reportedly retrieved his bicycle and Schmidt instead got into his blue 1998 Lexus GS and told the man to get in.
The man declined, given Schmidt had been drinking, and Schmidt became angry, stating he needed some help moving batteries, reports say.
The man declined further when Schmidt reportedly threatened to stab him before getting out of the Lexus and doing just that, according to police.
Schmidt was located the next day and interviewed whereupon he denied stabbing anyone.
Police took him to the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island where he was released on Wednesday.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Florida Keys, call Crime Stoppers, 800-346-TIPS.