A Cape Coral man was charged with attempted murder after police say he stabbed a man in the neck at a downtown billiards parlor Saturday night.
Harold Scott Berkey, 39, of 5034 Sorrento Ct. remained in the Lee County Jail Monday on a charge of Homicide Murder First Degree Premeditated, according to jail records.
Cape Coral police responding to a physical disturbance call at Rack Em’ Billiards at 1011 Cape Coral Parkway East shorting before 11 p.m. a found several patrons and bar employees detaining Berkey.
The patrons and employees told officers that Berkey attacked a man at the bar and stabbed him in the neck.
The victim, Richard Falb, was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Detectives determined that earlier in the evening Falb was on a break from his job at La Terrazza 47 (a restaurant next door to the pool hall) when he met Kim Lehmann and the two started talking.
Lehmann is the ex-girlfriend of Berkey, who was in the bar as well, and observed Falb and Lehmann talking, officials said, adding at approximately 8:45 p.m., Falb went back next door to work and Lehmann went to dinner with friends.
Berkey then sent two text messages to Lehman’s phone at 8:58 p.m. and 9 p.m. stating that he was going back to Rack Em’ to “stab people” and that he was “ready to go to prison,” according to police. Lehman did not check her phone and did not know that she received the messages until after the incident.
After his shift at the restaurant had ended, Falb went back to Rack Em’ Billiards where he again saw Lehmann who had returned as well after her dinner. Falb and Lehmann were talking with other friends when Berkey approached the group.
Berkey attacked Falb without provocation and struck him several times around the upper torso and neck, police said. Falb stated that he felt pain in his neck and then noticed blood running down his chest. Falb looked down and saw a knife in Berkey’s hand.
At that time, Berkey was grabbed by the patrons and employees of the bar. Falb used his shirt to press on his wounds until Police, Fire and EMS arrived at which point he was taken to the hospital.
Berkey was taken into custody by Cape Coral Police and charged with attempted murder, in part because of Berkey’s premeditated intent as evidenced by his text messages to Lehmann, police said.
Although Falb was stabbed several times and medical personnel said that his wounds could have been fatal, he is expected to recover.
“We are grateful for the swift actions of the staff and patrons of Rack Em’ Billiards. These actions coupled with the efforts of Fire and EMS no doubt saved Mr. Falb’s life…” said Lt. Tony Sizemore.

Source: Cape Coral Police Department