Drunk Cape man stabs roommate over dirty towel, police say

An argument regarding a dirty bathroom towel ended in a drunk Cape Coral man slashing his roommate with a box cutter.

Police arrested John Kevin Herrick, 54, on a charge of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, the Cape Coral Police Department said Friday.

On the way to the home, 1630 SE 40 Terrace, about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, officers heard from a dispatcher that a man had cut his roommate and ran away.

As they investigated, officers found that Herrick, who police said was intoxicated, and his roommate were arguing about the towel, but the shouting match turned physical when a box cutter fell out of Herrick's work belt.

"Herrick began slashing his roommate's legs with box cutter when the tide of the fight turned against him," police said.

Then he ran.

Emergency personnel took the roommate to an area hospital.

When Herrick saw the ambulance, he went back home. Police arrested him and took him to Lee County Jail where he remains with a bail of $100,000.

Herrick has been in jail twice before on drunk driving charges, most recently about 10 months ago.