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Police: Woman stabbed by neighbor in apparent unprovoked attack

CLERMONT, Fla. — A Clermont man was arrested Thursday, accused of stabbing one of his neighbors for no apparent reason.

Jerry Morales, 57, faces charges that include attempted homicide and aggravated battery.

Police were first called to the 600 block of S. Grand Highway just after 5 p.m. Thursday for a report of a crash with a stabbing victim in one of the cars.

The victim told police she drove into a parking lot there where she saw her neighbor, Morales, standing alone.

Police say Morales approached the victim as she sat in her car and started arguing before stabbing her multiple times with a small knife.

The victim attempted to escape by driving away and crashed into a parked car, according to police.

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Morales ran from the scene before officers arrived but was found in a marshy area a short distance away and arrested without incident.

The victim was taken to South Lake Hospital to be treated for her injuries and has since been released to her family.

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Morales is being held in the Lake County Jail on $180,000 bond.

Police say they’re still trying to determine what the motive for the attack might have been as it appears to have been completely unprovoked.