A local man was arrested Wednesday evening on a felony battery charge after allegedly slashing his boyfriend's foot with a knife during an argument.
Christopher Wayne Pate, 39, of 115 Kent St., was taken into custody at his residence shortly after 6:30 p.m. and charged with second-degree battery, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Pate remained in custody Thursday in lieu of $5,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court. Pate listed no prior felony history but had multiple misdemeanor arrests in the last five years for public intoxication.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police responded to the Kent Street apartment regarding a possible domestic disturbance and made contact with Pate in the front yard of an adjoining residence.
Pate stated he had been in a fight with his live-in boyfriend and allegedly made a spontaneous statement that he had cut him with a knife after he was pushed down. A computer check showed Pate had a local warrant for failure to comply so he was taken into custody and a folding knife was located in his pocket.
Officers made contact with the victim on the front porch of the apartment and noted he had a "large bleeding gash" on his left foot that was "wrapped in a blood-soaked towel." He told police he and Pate had been arguing and it turned physical.
He alleged Pate threw a vacuum cleaner at him prompting him to push Pate out of the back door, causing him to fall to the ground. At that point, the victim states Pate pulled a knife out of his pocket and cut him across the top of his foot.
Officers noted there was a "thick blood trail" from the back of the residence going through the house and onto the front porch where they could see "large pools of blood."
Pate was taken to the Garland County Detention Center and the victim was transported by LifeNet to National Park Medical Center for treatment.
Local on 04/03/2020