Fayetteville man arrested in stabbing

BENTONVILLE — A Fayetteville man was arrested Friday in connection with a stabbing during a fight.

Samuel Alden Casey, 22, was being haeld Monday in the Benton County jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. He faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder. His arraignment is Sept. 16 in Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren’s courtroom.

Bentonville police officers went to 1117 S.E. 33rd St. at 3:31 p.m. Friday in response to a report of a stabbing, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Sara Casey told police her son had stabbed someone and fled, according to the affidavit.

Police found an injured Ollen

Dean Stepp by a van and Eric Casey, Samuel Casey’s father, applying pressure to a wound in Stepp’s back, according to the affidavit. Stepp was taken to Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville, and police later learned Stepp had a punctured lung and broken rib, the affidavit states.

Stepp told police he confronted Samuel Casey after Casey threatened him with a knife, the affidavit states.

Stepp said he told Casey he would knock his teeth out with a bat if he opened the blade of the knife, according to the affidavit. Stepp said Casey threatened to kill him and lunged at him with the knife, the affidavit states.

Stepp said he could not remember if he hit Casey with the bat, but told police Casey stabbed him in the back, according to the affidavit.

Eric Casey said he went outside and saw the fight and heard Stepp yell, “He’s got a knife,” the affidavit states.

Eric Casey said he saw blood on Stepp and saw his son drive away, according to the affidavit.

Police talked with Samuel Casey by phone, and he told them he stabbed Stepp in self-defense. Casey said he had a concussion from Stepp hitting him with the bat, according to the affidavit.

Fayetteville police later arrested Samuel Casey and took him to Washington Regional Medical Center, according to the affidavit.

Samuel Casey had a cut on his left index finger but no other visible injuries on his body, according to court documents.

Samuel Casey was interviewed at the hospital and told police Stepp refused to let him leave and pushed him to the ground and hit him in the head, according to the affidavit. Casey said he was not trying to kill Stepp, but was only trying to defend himself, the affidavit states.

Samuel Casey was free on $10,000 bond on the arrest for the stabbing.

He was one of two people arrested June 1 at a protest on the Bentonville square where authorities fired tear gas at protesters. Casey was released on citation after that arrest.

Samuel Casey is on felony probation after pleading guilty to drug charges.