PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL – The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Houston Street in Panama City Beach yesterday, January 2, 2022, in reference to a stabbing. Deputies arrived and found the victim with a stab wound to the left side of his abdomen.
The victim told deputies a man he knew only as “Richard” had come to his home uninvited and asked to use a trailer the victim owned. During their conversation, the victim stated that Richard hit him on the head with a wrench and then stabbed him. The suspect then fled on foot. A witness also in the home at the time of the incident collaborated the victim’s story, The victim was taken to a local medical hospital.
BCSO Crime Scene arrived to process the scene for evidence. Deputies began to canvas the area. While on nearby Estrella Street, deputies saw the suspect and began a foot pursuit. They were able to capture the suspect and identify him as Richard Villanueva, age 27, of 8430 Houston Street. Villanueva was arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Battery.
Sheriff Tommy Ford appreciates the assistance of the Panama City Beach Police Department in the apprehension of Villaneuva.