SANFORD, Fla. — A Sanford man was upset he was evicted from his home so, police say, he broke back into the house near Celery Avenue and stabbed his former landlord. The woman survived and the unhappy man was arrested.
Police say the landlord refunded her tenant's $50 in rent and put his belongings outside, but he was so upset the woman survived his revenge stabbing overnight he promised police he'd finish the job when he got out of jail.
Paramedics checked out Warnzell Britt after he was arrested only blocks from the tiny Hickory Avenue house (see map) that had been his home until Thursday. Sanford police investigators believe he returned to the home late Thursday night, unwelcome, and stabbed his landlord as she slept.
"It's very annoying to me and it makes me very nervous," a neighbor, who didn't want to be identified, said.
This neighbor said Britt started renting a room in the boarded-up home during the recent cold snap. But Thursday his landlord, Sylvia Sanders, decided the arrangement had to end.
"She wanted to have the gentleman vacated from the residence and offered to reimburse him the monies. And apparently a disagreement occurred," said Capt. David Del Rosso, Sanford Police Department.
By 7:00pm Thursday, Sanders says Britt's belongings had been put outside, but he came back. Britt allegedly refused to hand over his key when he was evicted, so when he returned later in the night he was able to just unlock the front door and walk right in.
Sanders only awoke as Britt stabbed her leg. He ran from the home and left police with a threat when they caught him nearby. According to the police report, "Britt stated that he stabbed her and he would finish the job when he left jail."
Sanders was only injured on the leg and police said the injuries were not life-threatening. Britt's charges of aggravated battery carry a $4,000 bond.
WFTV
