LAKELAND, FL -- A 14-year-old with a lengthy criminal record appeared in court Thursday on charges of attempted murder.
He's accused of stabbing a Lakeland man at least 30 times during a home invasion robbery on Wednesday.
ABC Action News is not identifying the teen at this time.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says the teen savagely stabbed the 55-year-old man, who neighbors say has debilitating hip problems.
Deputies were sent to the home in the 1700 block of West Parker Street late Tuesday night after a burglary was reported. They searched a heavily wooded area near the burglary scene after the victim was able to give them a description of the young suspect.
Following the reported burglary, 55-year-old Daniel Granton was stabbed in his home in the 300 block of Dawn Street around 1 a.m. Wednesday.
The teen was spotted by Lakeland Police and Polk Sheriff's deputies as he tried to climb a fence near the original burglary scene.
Detectives say the 14-year-old resisted arrest and a K-9 was was brought in to assist. The teen was bitten in the buttocks and struggled during the arrest. Deputies say he threw punches at the arresting officers, hitting one in the chest.
Detectives say he had the stabbing victim's wallet and had blood on his clothes.
Granton was found in the carport with stab wounds and was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
In addition to the attempted murder charges, the teen faces home invasion robbery, burglary and battery of a law enforcement charges.
