East Prairie man in stable condition after being stabbed

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A 50-year-old East Prairie, Mo., man is in the hospital after he was stabbed once in the abdomen with a butcher knife during an altercation with another man Monday afternoon, according to a Sikeston Department of Public Safety news release Wednesday.

South Scott County Ambulance Service transported the victim, Ronald Givens, no address listed, to Missouri Delta Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition Wednesday, the release said.

Police responded to a call at about 4:45 p.m. about the altercation at 223 Petroleum St., the report said.

Police apprehended the suspect, identified as Gregory Halter, 44, of Charleston, Mo., after a police K-9 unit tracked Halter to a ditch near the residence.

The owner of the residence, John D. Nelson, told police he had been beaten by the suspect before Givens arrived, the statement said. Nelson's condition was not included in the statement.

Halter is currently in DPS custody under $75,000 bond, pending transfer to Scott County Sheriff's Department, according to the statement. He's been charged by Scott County prosecutor Paul Boyd with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and armed criminal action.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident and ask anyone with information to contact Sikeston DPS at 471-6200 or 471-1500. Calls will be kept confidential.

A police representative was not available for comment Wednesday.