Man Stabbed In Volusia County Bar

DEBARY, Florida -- An argument over money during an alleged drug transaction resulted in a non-fatal stabbing and an arrest early Thursday morning. 

Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies responded at about 1 a.m. to Rumor’s Bar, located at 83 South Charles R Beall Boulevard in Debary, Florida, and found 24-year-old DeBary resident John Bemish on the ground outside with a chest wound. 

As paramedics worked on Bemish, he was able to identify 34-year-old Kevin Roberson as his attacker.  Bemish was taken by Sheriff’s Office helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. 

Deputies also interviewed witnesses who told them that the suspect had jumped into the passenger seat of a silver car. Deputies found the 2008 Chevrolet HHR less than 10 minutes later and took Roberson into custody. 

Roberson told deputies that he had been called by a female friend who asked for drugs. Roberson said he went to Rumor’s Bar to meet the woman and her male friends. 

However, the woman allegedly owed Roberson money, which he tried to collect. He told deputies that one of the woman’s male friends gave Roberson some money, but Roberson saw that the bills were counterfeit. Roberson told deputies that he argued with the woman and then left. But witnesses told deputies that they saw the victim collapse to the ground in front of Roberson and that Roberson then ran away with a knife in his hand.

Roberson was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.