JENSEN BEACH, Fla. — A suspect is in custody after he attacked his landlord Tuesday night in Jensen Beach, according to deputies.
In a post on the Martin County Sheriff's Office page, investigators described the incident as "violent and disturbing."
WATCH BELOW: Renter accused of 'brutally' attacking landlord
Detectives said the attack occurred at a two-story home on the 1000 block of Northeast Ocean View Circle in Jensen Beach. It was calls from neighbors that alerted them to the disturbance.
Investigators believe the tenant, Brian Thomas Leach, 69, was enraged and violent after a conversation with his landlord about "eviction". Leach, who rents the lower level of the home, invited his landlord, who lives upstairs, to come downstairs for dinner.
"When she did, Leach brutally attacked and beat her, leaving her with severe injuries," according to the sheriff's office. "Following the battery, Leach exited the home, got into his vehicle, and intentionally rammed it into the structure, causing significant damage."
Leach also smashed other cars on the property.
Deputies arrived at the scene and detained Leach, but they said he attempted to slash his arms with a knife.
“Per his statements and some of the evidence we do know he beat her probably with his fist, may have used some household utensils to stab her,” said Major Ruben Romero with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Leach was taken to a hospital, where he remains Wednesday under law enforcement custody. The sheriff's office said he will be booked into the Martin County jail when he is discharged from the hospital.
The 68-year-old landlord was also taken to the hospital and is being treated for her injuries. Both Leach and the woman are in stable condition.
“Luckily for her, and we’re super thankful that she didn’t die and she’s making a recovery at the moment,” Romero said.
Investigators said the case is being investigated as attempted murder. The home sustained substantial structural damage from the crash.
Residents say it's a typically quiet neighborhood, so the violent crime caught them off guard.
“Stuff like that doesn’t normally happen around here,” said Roger Vincent, who lives a mile from the scene. “Looking at the crime scene, it's a little unnerving, a little scary. All the doors are open on the car that apparently was inside the building.”
