Deputies taser man accused of stabbing landlord | Crime

A man accused of attacking his landlord with a knife reportedly told deputies he should have cut the man’s head off.

On Friday Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies arrested Joseph Vandergrift, 34, of Strawberry.

According to Sheriff Jody Dotson, Vandergrift attacked his landlord with a knife and stabbed him in the leg.

Following the attack, Vandergrift ran from the scene.  Deputies searched the area for several hours but could not find him.

Later that evening 911 received a call of a man matching Vandergrift’s description “acting strangely” in Saffell.

Deputies, with Black Rock police officers assisting, found him at a family member’s home. 

Sheriff Dotson said Vandergrift “came at the officers with a knife and had to be tasered to prevent anyone from being hurt.”

Vandergrift was subdued and taken to the Lawrence County Jail to await a bond hearing.

On the way to the bond hearing, Vandergrift reportedly told the deputies he “should have cut his landlord’s head off.”  He was then charged with terroristic threatening, in addition to battery in the second degree and aggravated assault.

A judge set his bond at $150,000 and ordered him to appear in Circuit Court on November 28.