April 13, 2008
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

DEPUTIES ARREST MAN FOLLOWING STABBING OUTSIDE DELAND BAR

An argument inside a bar near DeLand spilled out into the parking lot early Saturday morning, resulting in two people sustaining stab wounds. The suspect in the stabbings fled the parking lot, but was captured by Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies about an hour later. The defendant, 49-year-old Johnny Plemmons of DeLand, is facing two counts of aggravated battery. The victims’ injuries weren’t life-threatening.

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Sharks Pub on East New York Avenue at about 2 a.m. Saturday morning after receiving a call about a fight involving a knife. When deputies arrived, the two victims had driven off in a pickup truck and Plemmons had fled on foot. Deputies quickly located the pickup truck, with the two bleeding victims inside. The victims -- 55-year-old Daniel Butler and 43-year-old David Kraus -- said Plemmons started a fight inside the bar over his wife, who used to date Kraus. The fight continued in the parking lot, where Butler was cut in the mouth. Kraus jumped in to break up the fight and ended up getting stabbed in the chest. Due to the location of Kraus’ injury, he was airlifted by Sheriff’s Office helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. The wound, however, turned out to be superficial and Kraus was stitched up and released.

Shortly after 3 a.m., deputies spotted Plemmons at his residence on South Hill Avenue and took him into custody. Plemmons was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach on $10,000 bond.