61-year-old Michael Quinn is facing several charges including first degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
Police say he stabbed a couple in Ashland last night near the Lithia Park entrance.
The victims are Jerry Dickerson and Adriana Rivadeneiru.
If convicted, Quinn could face 35 years in prison.
The Ashland Police Department says Quinn has a substantial criminal history.
However, his actions last night were a surprise to some Ashland residents.
Brickroom is right down the road from the entrance of Lithia Park.
Manager Blake Henry was bartending when one of his customers came back just 15 minutes after he left.
But this time, he had blood all over him.
What started off as a normal day quickly changed for Blake Henry Monday night.
He was bartending when a customer walked in covered in blood.
“When he went out to his car, he came across two individuals that were covered in blood themselves that had multiple stab wounds–face, neck, shoulders–as well as an older gentleman who had been bitten,” Henry said.
That’s when the customer stepped in to help.
He told Henry the fight was between Michael Quinn and a couple that was walking in the park.
Henry says a crime like this is very rare in Ashland.
“It’s always a shock when it happens in a town–especially in a town like this–where everyone shows so much love for each other and then something ignites… an altercation, a fight, or a stabbing at this point,” Henry said.
John Cowles works in the Plaza Information Kiosk.
He says it was a shock to hear about the stabbing.
“Ashland is…. we’ve lived here 14 years now and essentially it’s a very safe place to live. We’re very pleased with it,” Cowles said.
Cowles hopes that nothing like this happens in Ashland again.
Quinn will have his preliminary hearing on Sept. 27th at 4pm.
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