Man indicted in stabbing case in Swan Creek park

5/6/2008

Antuane Hamilton, accused of stabbing another man in Swan Creek Metropark and then killing that man's dog, was indicted yesterday by a Lucas County grand jury.

Hamilton, 35, of 1539 Secor Rd., was charged with felonious assault. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison.

Currently in custody in the Lucas County jail in lieu of a $105,000 bond, Hamilton appeared in Toledo Municipal Court yesterday. He is scheduled to return toay to Municipal Court, where he still faces one count of killing or injuring animals.

According to authorities, Fernando Gonzalez, Jr., 26, of South Toledo, had finished jogging with his cousin and the dog, a Rottweiler, at the park in the 4300 block of Airport Highway April 23 when a man yelled to him. Hamilton was arguing with a woman in the park before he approached Gonzalez, police said.

As the man got closer, Gonzalez said Hamilton challenged him to a fight. And when Gonzalez didn't back down, the man pulled a knife and stabbed Gonzalez below his left eye, authorities said.

Gonzalez's cousin let the dog out of Gonzalez's truck. Hamilton is accused of stabbing the dog before leaving the scene. The dog died at a local animal hospital.