BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Mrs. Arlene Johnson said in February, she called police in reference to a theft at her home. The call led to the arrest of both she and her husband, Lester Johnson, Sr.

Mrs. Johnson feels that if different action were taken her husband would not be in critical condition now. At approximately 3:15 a.m., Sunday, May 1st, Mrs. Johnson made another call to police.

LESTER JOHNSON JR.

Her son, Lester Johnson, Jr., reportedly broke into their Sulphur Springs home on E. Crawford Street, through the sliding glass doors and began allegedly stabbing his father as he slept in bed.

Mrs. Johnson told police that on Sunday morning, her husband was asleep and she had fallen asleep in a chair in the living room. Mrs. Johnson heard her husband screaming and went to investigate. She attempted to stop the attack and her son allegedly began stabbing her.

Mrs. Johnson told police her husband jumped on her son’s back to stop him from stabbing her. The fight moved to the front yard. Mrs. Johnson said her son ran away toward a wooded area as she got the cell phone to call police.

After using Air Service, and K-9 units, the younger Johnson, 26, who is the youngest of their 4 children, was located and arrested. He was charged with 2 counts of attempted first-degree murder; armed burglary; and 3 counts of violation of a domestic violence injunction.

Johnson is being held in the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

Son Arrested
Ms. Janelle McGregor, spokesperson for the Tampa Police Department said, “She had called about her son violating the injunction. We issued a local pickup for him and he was arrested on March 30th.”

According to jail records, Judge Walter Heinrich sentenced Johnson to 30 days in jail. He was released April 23rd after serving 24 days.