A 24-year-old man was arrested Saturday for allegedly stabbing a man in the back four times at a Lakeland nightclub in what police believe was a racially biased attack, Lakeland police said.
Just after midnight Saturday, officers responded to a nightclub at Wild Greg’s Saloon at 4951 Highway 98 N. in reference to reports of a person being stabbed, Lakeland police said.
Upon their arrival, Lakeland police discovered a 22-year-old man who said he had been stabbed four times in the back after a verbal altercation with an unknown man on the club’s patio, police said. The unknown suspect then fled the scene, the agency said.
Through their investigation, officers identified the suspect as Johnnie Brown IV, 24, of Winter Haven, Lakeland PD said. Witnesses reported Brown made a racist comment moments before stabbing the 22-year-old, the agency said.
The 22-year-old was taken to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Lakeland police said.
Brown was arrested in Polk County, where he is currently in custody, and charged with attempted second-degree murder with a deadly weapon and noted prejudice was reinforced, the agency said.
According to Lakeland police, Brown declined an interview with detectives after his arrest.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Derek Gulledge at derek.gulledge@lakelandgov.net.
