A Mexico man was arrested for his alleged involvement in a stabbing Monday morning that injured one man who was airlifted to the hospital.
Darrell Robert Smith, 42, of Mexico, is charged with two felonies – armed criminal action and second-degree assault — after causing serious physical injury to James Todd Kesler with a cutting tool, according to the warrant request issued by Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger.
Kesler, a 57-year-old Mexico man, was treated by Audrain Ambulance District before being transported by helicopter to University Hospital. According to a news release issued by the Mexico Public Safety Department, he is in stable condition.
At approximately 10:08 a.m., the MPSD responded to a reported stabbing in the 700 block of South Singleton. Upon arrival, officers saw Kesler lying in the street with what appeared to be a “life-threatening wound” to his left chest, according to the probable cause statement. Officials say Smith came to the residence prior to the incident, and witnesses reported seeing Smith fighting with Kesler before he was stabbed.
Investigators found Smith, who had fled the scene, just before 11 a.m. in the 1200 block of North Washington and arrested him without incident. A red Milwaukee Fastback box cutter was later recovered with blood on the blade, according to the probable cause statement.
During an interview with investigators, Smith admitted he removed the box cutter from his pocket, opened the blade and made a slashing motion toward Kesler, who was not armed, as they fought.
According to Shellabarger, Smith has an extensive violent and sexual criminal history that includes failures to appear in multiple states. He is considered a prior and persistent felony offender due to two prior convictions in Audrain County for distributing a controlled substance and first-degree statutory rape of a child younger than 14 years old.
Smith is being held without bond at the Audrain County Jail.
