Authorities seek leads in weekend stabbing

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 30, 2000

TREASURE ISLAND -- Police hope some Memorial Day weekend beachgoers can provide information about an early Sunday morning stabbing in Treasure Island.

The stabbing occurred at 1:28 a.m. in the parking lot of Gators Cafe & Saloon, a popular beach bar. Treasure Island police think the stabbing was prompted by the assailant and his victim bumping into each other earlier that night inside Gators, 12754 Kingfish Drive, and briefly exchanging words.

"This certainly wasn't the victim starting anything," Treasure Island police Detective Kathi Lovelace said.

The victim, 41-year-old Anthony Dalton of Tampa, has been upgraded from critical to stable condition at Bayfront Medical Center. He has been able to talk only briefly with police.

On Monday, police released a composite drawing of the man thought to be the assailant. He is described as a white man in his late 20s or early 30s, with short, wavy, dark brown hair, a medium build and no facial hair. The man is 5 feet 10 to 6 feet tall and was wearing a red, knit collared shirt and black pants at Gators.

The man stabbed Dalton as Dalton was leaving the bar in a car driven by his fiancee. The assailant reached into the passenger side and stabbed Dalton between his neck and right shoulder, police say. He then ran away.

Dalton was unable to talk about the incident Monday, according to Bayfront spokeswoman Cassandra Morrell.

Anyone with information can reach the Treasure Island Police Department at (727) 547-4595.

Officials say woman injured diving into pool

WESLEY CHAPEL -- A 31-year-old Wesley Chapel woman suffered partial paralysis Sunday evening in a diving accident, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

Tina Michelle Netherly of 6127 Woodsman Drive was injured when she dived into an above-ground pool behind her house about 7 p.m. and struck her head on the bottom, according to reports.

Netherly apparently dived into 4 feet of water from a wooden deck, reports said.

She was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where she was listed Monday in serious condition.

Reports said she was paralyzed from the waist down with a crushed vertebra. Relatives said they didn't know whether the paralysis was permanent.

Pasco County Fire Rescue District Chief Gary Policastri said alcohol was a factor in the accident.

"The average sober adult doesn't dive into a shallow pool," he said. "But alcohol clouds your judgment."

Girl leaves hospital after nearly drowning

ST. PETERSBURG -- A 5-year-old St. Petersburg girl who was rescued from the surf off Fort De Soto Park has been released from the hospital.

Jasmine Holmes was taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center on Sunday after lifeguard Kathy Cleary found the child face-down and unconscious in the water. Cleary resuscitated the girl on the beach.

Jasmine was transferred to All Children's Hospital and released Monday. Her family declined to comment.

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