David Slater – Coconino County Sheriff Photo
One of the people who called 911 to report the incident told dispatch that a white dually truck involved in the wreck had taken off and left the scene. The truck was reported to have front end damage from the wreck. The caller also reported there was a male subject at the scene who told them he had been stabbed while he was riding in the truck. The male subject was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center where he was treated.
Later in the evening, Deputies received a call for service for a welfare check in the Winona area east of Flagstaff. The caller said had last spoken with her boyfriend around 4 pm and had not heard from him since which was unusual. Deputies responded to a residence in Winona to conduct the welfare check. The deputy noticed there was a silver colored dually truck parked at the residence, and the truck had front end damage. The deputy also noticed there was blood inside the truck. The deputy realized that this truck may be involved with the incident reported earlier in the evening.
As deputies conducted the welfare check on the homeowner, the man advised the deputies that he met two other males at a local bar and the group returned to his residence where they continued to drink. At some point in the evening, the two other males got into a verbal argument and one of the subjects stabbed the other. The suspect left the residence. The homeowner attempted to transport the stabbing victim to the hospital but crashed the vehicle near I-17 and McConnell Drive. The stabbed victim got out of the vehicle, and the driver left the scene.
During their investigation Deputies identified the suspect in the stabbing incident. They learned he had been arrested shortly after the stabbing incident on DUI related charges by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The suspect has been identified as 61-year-old David Slater from Anthem, AZ. The suspect was booked into the Coconino County Jail for two counts of Aggravated Assault.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety will be coordinating their investigation of the various events related to this incident.