Man accused of busting into couple’s apartment in alleged knife attack
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POCATELLO — Police say a Pocatello man broke into a couple’s apartment and attacked them with a knife Friday.
Tristan Tamez, 23, is charged with felony aggravated battery and felony aggravated assault. According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, investigators believe Tamez, 23, attacked the couple with a pocket knife.
Police reports show officers were called to an apartment on the 700 block of Franklin Avenue at around 1:30 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found the apartment’s door broken off its hinges with blood on the lower half of the door. A man related to Tamez and a woman told officers they lived in the apartment.
The male victim said Tamez had kicked the door several times until it came off the hinges. According to court documents, Tamez then tried to attack the woman with a pocket knife, so the man restrained him.
Tamez is alleged to have then turned the knife on the man and began stabbing him multiple times, police said in their report. After the attack, the man said Tamez calmed down and left the apartment.
Officers observed a stab wound on the man’s stomach and upper arm.
Police went to Tamez’s apartment and spoke with him and his girlfriend. The girlfriend told officers Tamez had admitted to hurting the victim. She did not see Tamez with the knife but did see some blood on his back.
Police detained Tamez and asked him what happened. Tamez claimed he went to speak with the man and when he did not answer, he knocked down the door with his shoulder. That’s when things turned violent.
Tamez said he had a knife in his right hand down at his side when the man put him in a chokehold. During the scuffle, Tamez said the man did get cut and he elbowed him to get him away, according to court documents.
Although Tamez is charged with a crime, it does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
If convicted of both charges, Tamez could be ordered to spend up to 20-years in prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17.
Tamez remains held in the Bannock County Jail on $25,000 bail.