Staff report

Updated at 4:30 p.m. with criminal history

HAWTHORNE, Fla. – Jean Claude Van Damme, 50, was arrested yesterday after allegedly stabbing another driver in a road rage incident in Hawthorne.

At about 2:47 p.m. on September 24, Van Damme and the victim engaged in a road rage incident near the intersection of U.S. Hwy 301 and State Road 20 in Hawthorne, and both cars pulled over on the side of the roadway. The men argued, and then the victim reportedly walked away and Van Damme allegedly spit on him; the victim reportedly responded by punching Van Damme in the face. Van Damme allegedly pulled a knife and started attacking the victim with the knife while the victim tried to get away.

At one point, Van Damme reportedly fell to the ground, and then both men ended up on the ground, with Van Damme allegedly continuing to stab the victim. Witnesses reportedly pulled Van Damme off the victim.

The responding Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that the incident was captured on surveillance video from a local business. The video reportedly shows the victim punching Van Damme; Van Damme stumbles backwards, pauses for a moment, and then approaches the victim as the victim backs up. Van Damme can be seen pursuing the victim, making slashing motions with his right hand. Van Damme trips and falls to the ground, and the victim reaches down, as if to grab the knife; after that, both men end up on the ground. Two witnesses reportedly pull Van Damme away from the victim, and the deputy reported that Van Damme could have killed the victim if the witnesses had not intervened.

The victim was transported to a hospital to be treated for multiple stab wounds and lacerations.

Post Miranda, Van Damme reportedly requested an attorney.

Van Damme, whose address is listed as Leesburg, has been charged with attempted homicide. He has no criminal history; Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.