For a few minutes Sunday night, Clearwater Beach — at times, been known as one of the best beaches in the U.S. and the world — got brutal.

Police say a Clearwater woman went on a tear Sunday around 10:45 p.m., stabbing and slashing a man in the face with a box cutter, fleeing from and attacking officers, and causing a disturbance in the Pier 60 parking lot. Once arrested, Police say she tried to kick the window out of a police cruiser.

Kristi Lynn Kauffmann, 36, of was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer and battery on law enforcement officer, according to records from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

The incident began near Pier 60. Police say Lynn was arguing with Auztin Blount when she pulled out a box cutter. Blount told police she stabbed him in the side of the face, pulling the blade down and slashing almost the entire length of his face.

"She asked him if he wanted to buy marijuana. He said he wasn't interested and wanted her to leave him alone," Clearwater police spokesman Rob Shaw said. "The argument escalated from there and then it became physical."

After the stabbing, she ran, police say. A responding officer ordered her to stop, but she fled toward the Pier 60 public parking lot where he finally tracked her down. According to police, Lynn resisted arrest, shouting obscenities and pulling away from officers. Once arrested, she tried to kick out the window of the cruiser, then tried to kick an officer in the face when he tried to restrain her legs, records state. She missed his face, but got him in the chest.

Records show Lynn has a history of violence including two charges of attempted homicide in 2008 for which she served time in state prison. She was arrested for battery as recently as July 14.

Lynn is currently awaiting trial in Pinellas County Jail.

Shaw said Lynn's tirade is a stark contrast to the usual jovial atmosphere of Pier 60, where tourists and locals can often find sunset concerts and street performers juggling fire to the awe of throngs of onlookers.

"This was a very random event, a definite aberration for that area," Shaw said. "The beach is a very family-friendly and safe place to be. Unfortunately, this incident happened here. We haven't had any similar type incidents occur."

Daniel Figueroa IV can be reached at dfigueroa@tampabay.com. Follow @danuscripts