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Day's work interrupted by terror

In a dispute over an alleged affair, a woman storms an agency office with a knife, authorities say.

By STEVE THOMPSON
Published August 25, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - A woman angry with another for disclosing an alleged affair terrorized employees at the Pasco County Health Department on Wednesday morning with a 12-inch knife, according to sheriff's reports.

Sheriff's officials say 34-year-old Lumturije Lazri stormed into the agency's office on Little Road, grabbed an employee and demanded the woman leave with her.

Lazri held the knife first to the employee's wrist, then to her throat, the sheriff's reports say.

The two women knew each other, it seems. Lazri was there to confront the other woman about "telling (Lazri's) husband she has been having an affair," an arrest report said.

The report says Lazri pushed the woman down and then kicked her before the woman broke free and locked herself in an office.

Lazri threatened to kill another employee, who also locked herself inside an office, the report said. Then, according to the report, Lazri started stabbing the door with the knife.

Ultimately, sheriff's officials say, Lazri fled the building and drove recklessly out of the parking lot, blowing out a tire.

Deputies found her less than 20 minutes later, officials say, at her home at 11741 Nature Trail in Port Richey. She was changing the tire.

Lazri was in the county jail on $140,500 bail Wednesday evening. She faces charges of attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault, battery on health service personnel and criminal mischief.

[Last modified August 25, 2005, 01:23:19]