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Two charged with stabbing, false imprisonment

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Elizabeth Foster, 37
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James Foster, 54
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Anthony Sims, 44

The Bradenton Police Department, Bradenton Beach Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office are investigating an incident of a couple who allegedly tried to keep a third person from reporting that they stabbed him and stole a large amount of money.

According to a report from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, on June 25 at about 10 a.m., the Bradenton Police Department advised that Anthony Sims, 44, of Bradenton, exited a vehicle and claimed he had been stabbed by the driver, James Foster, 54, of Ellenton. Sims also claimed that Foster stabbed him with a crack pipe in the arm when he attempted to get out of the vehicle in the 4300 block of 14th Street West.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Sims, James Foster, and his wife Elizabeth Foster, 37, also of Ellenton, were all staying in a condominium in Bradenton Beach.

Early Monday morning, James Foster and Sims were involved in a physical fight that resulted in Foster stabbing Sims in the arm. Sims said after he was stabbed, Foster removed $3,200, his identification and credit cards from his wallet.

James and Elizabeth Foster then convinced Sims not to file charges if they drove him to the hospital to seek treatment for his injury.

According to the report, while en route to the hospital, Sims heard James Foster talking on the phone saying, "We are going to take him out to the property and cap him." Sims became concerned and attempted to get out of the vehicle. James Foster locked all the doors and windows in the vehicle in an attempt to keep Sims from leaving. Sims attempted again to get out of the vehicle, but was stabbed in the arm with a crack pipe by James Foster, according to the report.

Sims was eventually able to get out of the vehicle and run to a nearby Bradenton police officer, who called the sheriff's office.

Bradenton Beach police were then contacted and eventually located the original crime scene at 308 Gulf Drive S., in Bradenton Beach.

Bradenton Beach police arrived to conduct their investigation and interview the suspects and said they would be arresting James Foster for aggravated battery and robbery. James Foster was also charged by the sheriff’s office with aggravated battery and false imprisonment.

During a search of Elizabeth Foster's purse, a large sum of money along with the victim's identification and credit cards were found. Elizabeth Foster was arrested for accessory after the fact to robbery.

During the search of the vehicle, the crack pipe allegedly used to stab the victim in the arm was located under the driver's seat.