A man accused of stabbing a 70-year-old man three times was arrested by Gainesville Police Monday.
Stephen Reichelderfer, 34, of 1204 NW Third Ave. was charged with aggravated battery after reportedly stabbing the victim. The victim is in critical condition at UF Health Shands Hospital, according to a GPD report.
The incident occurred near SW 16th Avenue and SW 13th Street, the report said. Reichelderfer told GPD that he and the victim met at a bus stop, drank and smoked marijuana earlier that day, according to the report. Reichelderfer also told police that the victim became “irate for an unknown reason” and struck him with a cane.
There were no marks on Reichelderfer, and he had said the victim was “fragile,” according to the report. While a witness told police she didn’t see a cane, the report said GPD recovered one.
Reichelderfer then reportedly stabbed the victim twice in his abdomen and once in his leg, according to the report. Reichelderfer told police he stabbed the victim with a pocket knife because he “was not the kind of person to back down.” The victim said Reichelderfer also tried to steal his wallet, according to the report.
Reichelderfer is being held in the Alachua County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon with his bond set at $250,000.
Contact River at rwells@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @riverhwells.
