Man stabbed during altercation in Butler County

A Butler County stabbing victim was arrested for allegedly beating his girlfriend, chasing her and a man and ramming their vehicle in an attempt to run the truck they were in off the road.

A Butler County deputy was flagged down in the Broseley, Mo., area Monday night by occupants of a truck allegedly being chased by another truck after an apparent domestic dispute escalated, including a stabbing.

About 7:45 p.m., Sgt. Brandon Waggoner said, Deputy Bo Skinner was driving on Highway 51 when he saw a northbound maroon Chevrolet pickup traveling at a high rate of speed with its emergency hazard lights flashing, being followed by a blue Chevrolet truck.

Waggoner said the maroon truck's occupants were trying to flag the deputy down, so Skinner turned around and stopped both vehicles on the highway, north of County Road 650.

The deputy made contact with the driver of the blue truck, Nathern Wombles, who fell to the ground as he exited his truck and had blood on his left thigh, Waggoner said.

Wombles told Skinner he and his girlfriend, Tiffany Brown, had been arguing when someone grabbed a stick with something on it and stabbed him, Waggoner said.

Brown, who was a passenger in the maroon truck, said she was at the home of Donnie Ray Jr. when Wombles tried to get her to leave, Waggoner said. Ray attempted to make Wombles leave, and Wombles pushed Ray, who "grabbed a stick and stabbed Wombles with it," Waggoner said.

Brown left in a truck with another man and Wombles gave chase, Waggoner said.

Wombles was taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released. The 27-year-old Fisk, Mo., man then was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault [vehicular injury], third-degree domestic assault, careless and imprudent driving and driving while revoked/suspended and on a warrant for parole violation.

Waggoner said Cpl. Randal Huddleston contacted Ray by telephone. Ray said he was hiding in the woods and would not meet with Huddleston for fear of being arrested, Waggoner said. Ray said he had not wanted to stab Wombles, "but Wombles was beating on Tiffany Brown," Waggoner said.

Ray reportedly described the weapon as a "stick that had a knife attached to the end," Waggoner said. "He admitted to stabbing [Wombles] in the leg."