By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man was allegedly stabbed with a machete by the boyfriend of his estranged wife after he attacked the man with a baseball bat Saturday afternoon.
The incident reportedly took place in the Sunrise Village Mobile Home and RV Resort at 900 E. Hollywood Rd., but by the time it was called in both subjects had left. Authorities were then dispatched to the parking lot of Green’s Furniture at about 4:46 p.m. because the stabbing victim, Carlos Benavidez, had stopped there.
Benavidez denied being stabbed, but Ashley Gentile, who described herself as Benavidez’s separated wife, informed the police that Benavidez had come to the trailer of her boyfriend, Joe Gonzales, at her behest because Gonzales had assaulted her while drunk. She said Gonzales yelled at her that he had stabbed Benavidez as he fled from the scene.
Benavidez’s hand was wrapped in a bloody T-shirt and when opened the officer saw two deep lacerations that were spurting blood.
Gentile said she had picked up Gonzales and brought him to his residence in Sunrise Village because he was too drunk to drive and he began pulling her hair and hitting her. When Gentile told Gonzales to do that to a man, he told her to go ahead and call Benavidez over and he would.
Gentile then informed Benavidez of the situation, and he responded to the scene with a baseball bat in hand, according to witness statements.
Benavidez then allegedly took a swing at Gonzales, who responded by stabbing Benavidez in his hand with the machete.
Benavidez was treated by paramedics from Lifeline Ambulance, who then transported him to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center. Benavidez was then flown out to Banner-University Medical Center Tucson for further treatment, according to a police report. A bat was later found in his vehicle parked at Green’s Furniture.
The case was forwarded to detectives for possible charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
