By: Alex Evans
Duluth, Minn. – A woman was stabbed in the thigh after an altercation in West Duluth’s Memorial Park, police say.
One woman is recovering, and another is in custody after a reported stabbing in West Duluth’s Memorial Park on Monday evening. According to Duluth Police, Tasha Lucille Carlson, 37, allegedly stabbed another woman, 36, who was an apparent stranger, during an altercation between the two that occurred at the park.
Police were dispatched to Memorial Park, located at the intersection of Grand and Central Avenue, around 10:00 p.m. on Monday for reports of a stabbing. The victim was found across the street at the Circle K gas station, and appeared “distraught and talked quickly and rapidly” with emergency officials. As paramedics were treating the victim, an officer observed a laceration on the woman’s thigh.
The victim told officers at the scene that another woman, who had been “inside the park screaming and yelling all day,” was the person who stabbed her. While the victim did not know the woman, police later identified the suspect as Tasha Carlson.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim said she was talking with a friend outside the park before the incident occurred. The victim claimed that Carlson was “inside the park with a bike and staring at her from a distance.” The victim’s friend reportedly suggested that they leave in case Carlson tries to fight them.
Carlson allegedly rode her bike over to the victim and her friend, “stating she would stab her.” The victim said Carlson “jumped off the bike and already had the knife out.” She told officers that she took a “fighting stance” when Carlson threatened her.
When Carlson attempted to stab the victim’s abdomen, the victim reportedly put her in a headlock. It’s when Carlson was in the headlock that she allegedly stabbed the victim’s thigh, causing everyone to scatter. Carlson reportedly went back into the park, while the victim went to the nearby gas station.
The complaint alleged that the victim “has never seen [Carlson] and does not know her.”
Officers found Carlson “sitting calmly on the bench in the park.” Despite attempts to build rapport with Carlson, “she did not speak much and was staring out in the distance.” She did not provide any details about the incident, but a folding knife was found in her possession. Officers at the scene reported that when they collected the knife, they “observed a slick, shiny, oil-like substance on the blade of the knife.”
When asked if she was injured, Carlson reportedly said, “Only mentally.” Carlson was taken into custody, and the victim positively identified her to officers.
Carlson is charged with second-degree assault with a knife and could face a maximum possible sentence of 7 years in prison.
The Twin Ports Report 