A judge set bail Monday at $100,000 for a Vancouver man accused of stabbing his fiancee’s stepfather with a machete during a weekend Halloween party in Hazel Dell.
Spencer James Duran, 32, appeared in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault. He is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 9.
Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded around 10:45 p.m. Saturday to a house at 10419 N.E. 25th Place for reports of a disturbance with a weapon. A 911 caller reported a man had stabbed someone with a machete, and partygoers had subdued the suspect, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies identified the man with the knife as Duran and said he had the machete fixed to his chest as a part of his Halloween costume, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The affidavit identified the victim, Andrew Parks, 49, as Duran’s fiancee’s stepfather and said the party was at Parks’ house.
When deputies tried to interview Duran after he was detained, they said Duran shouted obscenities and did not cooperate.
Deputies rendered medical aid to Parks, including applying a tourniquet. They said the stab wound on his right thigh was deep enough to hit bone, court records state. Parks was taken to an area hospital for treatment, the sheriff’ office said.
Witnesses told deputies Duran was intoxicated and was not supposed to be at the house. They also said Duran became more belligerent throughout the night, and at one point, pushed a woman to the ground. The woman’s husband shoved Duran, which caused Duran to fall down. The two men got into a fight, but Parks was eventually able to separate them, according to the affidavit.
A short time later, a fight broke out in the kitchen during which Duran unsheathed the knife and stabbed Parks. A witness said after Duran stabbed Parks, another man threw Duran to the ground, and he lost his grip on the machete. Someone then tossed the machete outside, the affidavit states.
Deputies described the scene in the house when they arrived as chaotic, according to a news release. Another person reportedly suffered a laceration to her foot after being trampled during the fight.
The sheriff’s office said Sunday night that the Major Crimes Team was continuing to investigate, because not all witnesses had been interviewed; more charges may be forthcoming.
