FROM CHANNEL 7:
A dispute between some South Walton homeowners and a nearby nightclub took a more serious turn over the weekend.
The general manager of Salty Dog Saloon on 30-A turned himself in to sheriff's officials this afternoon after he was almost stabbed this weekend, but not before he spoke for our cameras.
Salty Dog Saloon served its last meal Friday after Alabama resident Kenneth Arnett allegedly attempted to stab the establishment's general manger.
Witnesses say Arnett turned violent when management told him he couldn't smoke inside.
Stan Meadows, Salty Dog's General Manager, said, "One of my employees hollered out, 'knife.’ I looked down and had a knife headed toward my stomach. I was able to get the knife away from him, and at that point he told me he was going to get a shotgun and blow my head off."
Stan Meadows believes local homeowners instigated the attack. Meadows met with locals in September who claim the restaurant's music and crowd’s noise disturbed the peace.
Meadows promised to work with the homeowners, but residents say the situation only got worse.
Sandra Luchtefeld, a concerned neighbor, said, "I called Stan on his cell phone. He answered. I told him it was loud. He told me he'd take care of it. Ten minutes later it was even louder."
The homeowners' further complaints led to the arrest two weeks ago of Salty Dog's assistant manager. Then came this weekend's incident.
Sheriff's deputies arrested Kenneth Arnett at a home on Vickie St. Neighbors say this is a rental property and they've never heard of this man before.
Neighbors say they want to make it very clear that they did not encourage Arnett or anyone to hurt Meadows.
"Absolutely not. It's a rental property. I don't know how he thinks any of us could control the rental property."
But Meadows says it seems odd that the initial noise complaint filed against salty dogs came from the same home Anrett was renting. Meadows says he doesn't understand how the situation got out of hand.
"I really don't know the reason for all of this or why someone did try to kill me or why someone would want to put me out of work."
Meadows was released this afternoon on a charge of breach of the peace. Salty Dog's owner has decided to close the restaurant.