ALLANTON - A man stabbed his girlfriend’s father with a pitchfork Thursday morning and tried in vain to escape deputies by swimming across part of East Bay near Allanton, officials said.
Charles Duane Melvin, 39, of 13111 Allanton Road, was charged with aggravated battery after an argument escalated into a fight and he stabbed Jack R. Camp, 68, in the arm with a pitchfork, according to an incident report from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
The 8:15 a.m. fight was witnessed by Sandra L. Messick, 39, who is Camp’s daughter and Melvin’s girlfriend, the report said.
By the time deputies arrived at the residence, EMS was already treating Camp, who had several puncture wounds to his left forearm and scratches along the left side of his back that were consistent with a pitchfork, the report said. Camp refused to go to the hospital.
Camp told deputies that he was sitting with his daughter inside Messick’s camper, which is located on Camp’s property. Camp said Melvin was intoxicated and was outside talking to himself and “carrying on.”
Camp went outside and told Melvin to calm down or leave the property, the report said. The two began arguing. Melvin shoved Camp to the ground and struck Camp in the nose with his knee, causing a small nose bleed, the report said.
Camp was able to get to his feet. Melvin ran and picked up a pitchfork that was lying next to the trailer and tried to stab Camp in the stomach, Camp said. Camp raised his left arm to block the pitchfork, which stabbed him in the left forearm.
Melvin then swung the pitchfork, striking Camp in the back three times, the report said. Melvin then dropped the pitchfork and fled the area.
Deputies spotted Melvin paddling on the bayou in a dingy, headed toward the Eastern Shipbuilding property. He tied the dingy to a sailboat anchored in the bayou and began swimming for the shore. Deputies lost sight of Melvin for a while, but soon found him lying in thick brush near the shipyard.
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