Police: Man arrested after attacking victim with machete

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Police arrested a Jonesboro man after they said he attacked someone with a machete during an argument.

Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause on Monday, March 4 to charge 35-year-old William Morales-Vargas with first-degree battery.

According to the affidavit, on Sunday, March 3, Jonesboro police officers responded to the 800 block of Cate Avenue about a disturbance that had already occurred.

Upon arrival, officers saw blood drops coming from the stairs leading up to the walkway going into the home.

“As officers got closer to the east side door of the residences, there was a larger amount of blood on the porch,” police said.

That’s when officers began giving commands through the open door for someone to come out of the home, but they got no response.

The affidavit said officers found Morales-Vargas in a bedroom with blood on his shirt and detained him.

Officers were told a victim, later identified as a family member of Morales-Vergas’, had arrived at St. Bernards after being attacked by Morales-Vergas with a machete, according to police.

The affidavit noted the victim had received a laceration on his face, nearly cutting their cheek off. The victim also suffered a broken arm and lacerations to their right forearm, left hand, right knee, and finger.

Police noted the injuries appeared to have been “defensive injuries” from trying to block Morales-Vergas from hitting them in the face.

A witness told police Morales-Vargas had come home intoxicated and began arguing with the victim.

The affidavit explained during the argument, Morales-Vargas went to his room, grabbed a machete, and began attacking the victim.

During the attack, the victim “was able to get the machete away and throw it to the ground” before running away from the home, according to police.

Police searched the home, where they found the machete on the kitchen floor, as well as large amounts of blood in the living room and kitchen.

Morales-Vargas was taken to the Craighead County Detention Center after his arrest.

On March 4, Judge Fowler gave Morales-Vargas a $35,000 cash-only bond. His next court date is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24.

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