PALM COAST, Fla. – A Palm Coast man arrested Thursday is accused of slashing another man walking in a residential neighborhood, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Eric Galdabini, 56, began following the victim’s girlfriend that morning while driving a Jeep on Barrister Lane, a charging affidavit states. The woman was walking several yards behind the victim but soon closed the gap to tell him Galdabini had been attempting to pick her up, later advising deputies he had passed the couple three separate times.
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On Galdabini’s final approach, the victim told him to “keep moving,” according to the affidavit. Galdabini then parked the Jeep and sprinted toward the couple, striking the victim’s face before receiving two return hits that felled him, deputies said.
The victim told deputies he was able to overcome Galdabini and had placed him in a chokehold in an attempt to stop the fight when the 56-year-old then began slashing him with a knife and attempted to chase the victim further. Galdabini then returned to his vehicle and drove off, deputies said.
The woman was not injured and the victim’s non-life-threatening injuries were able to be treated at the scene by Flagler County Fire Rescue, according to the sheriff’s office.
Galdabini was soon spotted in his Jeep at the intersection of Belle Terre Parkway and Barrister Lane, where deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop, the sheriff’s office said.
Detained in handcuffs, Galdabini told deputies he had argued with the woman after asking her if she wanted a ride, what he claimed led to the victim approaching, beating and choking him ahead of the stabbing. Deputies noted Galdabini was unable to explain why he didn’t call law enforcement in light of his version of the incident. Despite conflicting statements, deputies concluded the victim’s account was accurate after reviewing surveillance footage of the altercation.
The knife was found in Galdabini’s car after he had reportedly granted deputies permission to retrieve it. It had fresh blood stains on the blade, according to the affidavit.
Galdabini faces charges of battery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and is being held on a $40,000 bond, records show. His case is scheduled for arraignment on Feb. 26.
Note: This map depicts the general area of the scene and not necessarily its exact location.
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