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Dispute. Knife. 911. Hospital (soon jail).

By THOMAS LAKE
Published February 10, 2007

PORT RICHEY - Husband accuses wife. Husband overturns wife's purse and sifts contents for evidence. At 6411 Stone Road in the small hours of Friday morning, it begins as a typical domestic disturbance.

Then come the guns, the knife, the Tasers and the baseball bat.

This is how the conflict plays out, according to a sheriff's report:

Indignant over accusations, wife raises voice and leaves bedroom. Husband pulls her back in, slams door, puts hand over her mouth, threatens to kill her with a knife.

Wife escapes, screaming. Tells daughter to call police. Daughter complies. Husband throws daughter to floor, holding the knife to her throat.

Wife runs to garage, summons 18-year-old son. Husband gives chase, strikes her head with black baseball bat.

Son grabs knife, wrestles husband to floor. Waits for him to calm down. Lets him up. Husband goes after wife again. Son punches his face.

Husband whacks son with the baseball bat.

Women run outside and call 911. Deputies arrive, find husband holding bat in right hand and large knife in left, pointing at own midsection.

Deputy draws gun, approaches husband, tries to soothe. Husband fakes stabbing self, retreats toward master bedroom. Deputy fires Taser.

Shot strikes target. Husband falls to floor, out of view. Deputies find him in bedroom, knife stuck in chest. They're not sure how it got there.

Deputies take husband to a hospital. He is Tracy Thomas George Sr., 43. Doctors remove the knife. Afternoon comes and he is in fair condition. Deputies wait for medical clearance. When he is well enough they will take him to jail.

Reporter calls to check on rest of family. Woman picks up. Won't answer questions. Says don't call again.

Thomas Lake can be reached at tlake@sptimes.com or 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6245.

[Last modified February 10, 2007, 01:04:34]