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Cops seeking stabbing suspect |
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Monday, 12 January 2009 |
Benton police said Friday they are looking for a tall, thin black man in his late 20s known as “V” or “Slim” in connection with a stabbing early Thursday.
Authorities said the man could be driving a late 1990s or early 2000 dark-colored Pontiac Grand Am.
The stabbing reportedly occurr-ed just before 2:30 a.m. Thursday during a “narcotics deal that went bad,” authorities said.
Officer Melonie Cannada went to 324 Clark St. and found Robert Higgs, 39, of Benton on the front porch of the house with stab wounds and gashes.
Higgs reportedly was stabbed three times in the left hip, suffered two cuts to the top of his head and had numerous bruises.
Higgs reportedly told Cannada that he was on the front porch of a house at 1214 Marshall St. with his wife, Stacy Venable, when two people approached. He said a man he knows only as Victor “V” and a woman he identified as Anita Johnson got out of a vehicle be-longing to Monica Gray of Benton and argued with Higgs about stolen money.
Higgs told police that he was then attacked and heard someone yelling “Stab him!” before “V” and Johnson fled in the vehicle. Higgs said Venable ran home and that he went to the house on Clark Street to get help.
The homeowner told Cannada that someone banged on his door and that after finding Higgs on his porch, he called the police. He said he didn’t see what happened, but he said he believes Venable also was attacked.
Higgs was taken to Saline Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released, authorities said.
Cannada said she found Venable at her house and that she was bleeding, had a gash on the top of her head and had bruised forearms. Venable reportedly told Cannada the same story as Higgs before she was taken to Saline Memorial Hospital, where she also was treated and released.
Cannada said Venable told her at the hospital that “V” and Johnson lived at Fountain Lake Apartments in Benton, where Cannada later found the suspect’s vehicle.
The car is registered to Gray, who was contacted by police and asked the whereabouts of her vehicle. Gray reportedly said she was in Little Rock but that her vehicle was in the parking lot next to Williams Tire & Service off Interstate 30 in Benton.
When Cannada informed Gray that she was standing next to Gray’s vehicle and that the hood was warm from driving, Gray “became quiet, fumbling for words,” Cannada said.
Gray reportedly denied talking to Johnson in more than a month and did not know where to find her. Cannada said an apartment manager gave the apartment number of Johnson but she was not home on Thursday.
Authorities said Johnson was arrested Friday and charged with attempted robbery and third-degree battery. Police are still searching for “V,” who faces possible charges of first-degree battery and robbery.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Benton Police Department at 778-1171 or the tip line at 315-TIPS.
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