Louis Damian Cruz Montanez

by April Scheinoha
Reporter

A Thief River Falls man has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed a coworker in the neck with a knife Wednesday evening at their workplace.

Louis Damian Cruz Montanez, 26, has been charged with felony second degree attempted murder and felony second degree assault, according to the complaint. He was arrested.

Cruz Montanez allegedly stabbed a 42-year-old Thief River Falls man during a fight at Northern Pride, according to police and the complaint. The man was stabbed with a boring knife featuring a 4.25-inch blade. He suffered a half-inch long wound to the left side of his neck. Another employee provided first aid before emergency personnel arrived. The complaint doesn’t list the man’s condition. However, the police department told The Times that the man is expected to be OK.

Cruz Montanez allegedly told police that he used the knife to protect himself from the man as a last resort.

Police were dispatched to Northern Pride to investigate a 911 hang-up call at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday, according to police and the complaint. On the way there, police learned that someone had been stabbed there. They later learned that other employees had broken up a fight between the two men and had wrapped the knife in a coat in the office.

Through an interpreter, Cruz Montanez, the alleged victim and a witness told authorities that a physical fight occurred after the victim opened a door to the locker room/bathroom area. The door hit Cruz Montanez, who was bent over and he hit his head on a wall. All three said the two men argued after the incident. The witness said the two men then physically fought with one another. The witness didn’t know who started the fight. He told authorities that the victim was “winning the fight” over Cruz Montanez, when the latter man pulled a knife out of his locker. The witness said the victim then went into the bathroom and used the box fan as protection. After he saw the knife, the witness left to get help. The victim provided a similar account to police.

Cruz Montanez allegedly said the victim hit him in the head with the victim’s hearing protection prior to him brandishing the knife. He noted the man grabbed him by the throat and punched him in the chest and abdomen. He also said the victim grabbed the box fan and began swinging it at him. Cruz Montanez said he then grabbed the knife off of the floor and used it to protect himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original story is posted below:

by April Scheinoha
Reporter

A Thief River Falls man has charges pending for felony second degree assault after he allegedly stabbed a coworker Wednesday evening in Thief River Falls.

Louis Damian Cruz Montanez, 26, has charges pending for felony second degree assault, according to the Thief River Falls Police Department. He was arrested.

Cruz Montanez allegedly stabbed a 42-year-old Thief River Falls man during an altercation at Northern Pride. The police department believed the man would be OK. The incident was reported at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday.

This was the second stabbing within 10 days in Thief River Falls. In the other incident, Shane Kirby Williams, 32, Thief River Falls, has been charged with felony second degree attempted murder and other charges after he allegedly stabbed a female friend three times. The woman later underwent surgery for her injuries.