SUSPECT IDENTIFIED: Palm Beach County deputy in stable condition after stabbing

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday identified the man who authorities said stabbed an off-duty deputy then stole his patrol car.

Glen Gotell, 73, is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary while armed, and grand theft of a motor vehicle.

The sheriff's office said Gotell robbed a business in the 4100 block of South Jog Road near Greenacres at approximately 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

An off-duty deputy went into the business, saw Gotell armed with a knife, and confronted him. That's when the suspect stabbed the deputy twice, in his torso and hand, according to the sheriff's office.

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Gotell took off and stole the deputy's patrol car, which was later found near the intersection of Chickasaw Road and South Jog Road.

Gotell was eventually found and taken into custody two hours later, roughly a half-mile away in the bathroom of the Greenacres branch of the Palm Beach County Library, located in the 3700 block of South Jog Road.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the county's Homeless Intervention Team was a huge help in the search. PBSO showed the team a picture of the suspect and, recognizing his face, the team said Gotell hangs out nearby at the Greenacres library.

"The Homeless Intervention Team works with [the homeless] so much that they pretty much know who is where, who is hanging around what. So it's a great apprehension," Bradshaw said.

PBSO then went to a homeless camp nearby and asked if Gotell looked familiar. The people at the camp confirmed he frequents the library.

WPTV

The sheriff's office said Wednesday the injured deputy is in stable condition in the hospital.

"Fortunately, the deputy is going to make it," Bradshaw said. "He's still in surgery repairing his liver. At the end of the day, a good arrest and a good outcome."

The knife used in the stabbing has not yet been located. PBSO will be using K-9s to locate the weapon, Bradshaw said.