BLUE EARTH — A Blue Earth man is facing felony assault charges after authorities said a domestic disturbance left another man with a life-threatening stab wound.
Arturo Martinez Jr., 33, has been charged in Faribault County District Court with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and misdemeanor disorderly conduct in connection with the June 20 incident.
Blue Earth police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence. Martinez and his cousin and roommate, Roberto Gallegos Jr., 28, told the officer they had been arguing over what Martinez described as “drunk talk.” Both men initially denied that any weapons had been involved, according to the criminal complaint.
Gallegos showed the officer an injury to his abdomen he believed was a ruptured hernia and asked for assistance in having Martinez leave the home, where Martinez had reportedly been staying as a guest for about two months. An ambulance was called to evaluate Gallegos, and emergency medical personnel determined the injury appeared to be a stab wound, as he had a hole in his shirt that matched the wound.
A witness later emerged from the residence holding a bloody knife, telling officers it had been found near where the altercation occurred, the complaint states. A second witness reported seeing the end of the physical fight but did not see a knife.
Gallegos was transported to a hospital for treatment. Investigators said he suffered a deep stab wound to the abdomen that created a high probability of death and constituted great bodily harm.
Martinez told police he had argued with another houseguest earlier in the evening and left the residence before returning to retrieve a jacket. He told officers Gallegos began pushing and choking him, and he pushed him back in response.
Gallegos reportedly did not realize he had been stabbed until medical personnel arrived on the scene.