Northern Utah man charged in campsite stabbing in Cache County

Adobe Stock image

SALT LAKE CITY — A Logan man accused of stabbing another man at a camp in Cache County last week is facing numerous charges.

Ronald Daniel Nalepa, 39, was charged Monday in 1st District Court with aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; failing to stop at the command of police, a third-degree felony; using a weapon during a fight, DUI and failing to stop for police, both class A misdemeanors; carrying a weapon while under the influence and reckless driving, both class B misdemeanors; intoxication, a class C misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, an infraction.

On Wednesday, Nalepa allegedly stabbed Jesse Kaufman, 31, in Millville Canyon, according to the Cache County Sheriff’s Office. Kaufman’s family drove him to a gas station in NIbley and called 911.

“A tourniquet was applied by responders to stop the bleeding which was life-threatening,” according to a police affidavit.

Kaufman was taken by ambulance to Logan Regional Hospital and then flown by medical helicopter to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

A Utah Highway Patrol trooper and a Logan police officer spotted Nalepa’s truck on U.S. 89 near Wellsville and attempted to pull him over, but he “fled at a high rate of speed, committing numerous traffic offenses such as running stop signs, jumping curbs and driving with a complete and total disregard for public safety,” the affidavit states.

The chase ended in Logan when Nalepa drove to the home of his estranged wife, according to the affidavit.

“Once there, he exited the vehicle with his hands up, however (he) totally disregarded verbal commands given for him to surrender as he walked toward the doorway, intent on seeing his wife,” according to the affidavit.

Logan police officers tackled Nalepa, who was carrying a knife in his pocket, the affidavit states.

After he was arrested, Nalepa “admitted to consuming a great deal of alcohol at the campsite. ...Witnesses reported Ronald had been angry, loud and upset in his intoxicated state, and causing commotion. Ronald admitted to arguing with (Kaufman) and then getting so angry that he pulled a knife out of his pocket and stabbed him,” according to the affidavit.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2YNH78z