Charges filed in Sparta knife attack

A Sparta man was charged with stabbing another man in an incident on Main Street Sunday.

According to a warrant filed that same day by Officer Aldo A. Salas of the Sparta Police Department, Migdael Ortiz Navas of 219 S. Main St. was charged with assaulting Ilias Roque Maritinez with a knife with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury.

Det. Tim Bartlett of the Sparta Police Department said officers from the department were called by the emergency room staff at Alleghany Memorial Hospital after Maritinez was brought in with three stab wounds at about 3:30 a.m. One wound was to the right upper chest and two were in the lower back, said Bartlett.

Maritinez was expected to be released from the hospital on Monday, Bartlett said.

After interviewing the victim, officers determined that the attack occurred at Navas' residence on South Main Street.

Bartlett and Salas, along with Officer Glwyn Sawyer and Deputy Zach Mooneyhan of the Alleghany Sheriff's Department went to Navas' home to conduct interviews.

"We interviewed some other residents there and determined where the crime occurred," said Bartlett.

He said the officers determined that both men had been drinking. As for the motive for the attack, it has yet to be established.

Navas was not at the residence when officers arrived to investigate, but was located in a traffic stop by Bartlett and Sgt. Ricky Royal at 9:45 a.m. "He actually had his bags packed and appeared to be heading out of the state," said Bartlett. "We were fortunate to have caught him when we did."

Navas was placed in the Alleghany County Jail under a $50,000 bond and was ordered, if released, to have no contact with the victim and to not possess weapons. He remained in custody as of press time Tuesday.

 

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