PALM HARBOR, Fla. – New information released in the stabbing attack against a Palm Harbor school officer reveals that the incident was far more violent and the officer’s injuries are more serious than was first reported.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, 13-year-old suspect Kenneth Stoltman stabbed Officer Kenneth Fridlund three times and reached for the officer’s gun as the officer fought for his life Wednesday at Carwise Middle School.
Fridlund confronted the teen after a teacher reported that Stoltman smelled of gasoline in the classroom.
Stoltman, who brought 11 glass bottles of gasoline to school, hid the bottles in the bathroom and was on his way back to class when he was stopped by the officer.
The officer was then lured into the bathroom by Stoltman and suddenly stabbed in the abdomen by the teen.
The report says Fridlund nearly got stabbed in his chest, but was able to deflect the attack with his arm, and ended up getting stabbed in the shoulder instead.
Officer Fridlund fell to the ground in the hallway and Stoltman got on top of him and stabbed him again in the arm. Fridlund used pepper spray on the teen, but it didn’t slow him down.
Stoltman then reached for the officer’s gun and tried to remove it from the holster. Fridlund continued fighting and yelled to school staff that the teen was trying to take his gun.
School staff was able to step in and subdue Stoltman, ending the attack.
The officer had internal injuries from being stabbed that were not initially known until he was examined at the hospital.
He lost a significant amount of blood and was bleeding internally.
Fridlund had to undergo emergency surgery to stop the bleeding and save his life.
Officer Fridlund remains in the hospital.
Stoltman was taken to a local hospital, where he is undergoing a mental health evaluation. Once it is completed, he will be transported to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center.
Stoltman will be charged with one count of attempted murder and 11 counts of possession and manufacturing of firebombs.
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