CHURCH HILL — Police believe an ongoing dispute over a woman was the motive for a stabbing late Saturday night in Church Hill that sent one man to the hospital and another to jail.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday, Church Hill Police Department Officer Ken Luster responded to a stabbing complaint at a residence on Old Mill Race Road just off of West Main Boulevard.
The victim, Winston Wright of Surgoinsville, reportedly told Luster he had been stabbed at the Rub-A-Dub car wash at the intersection of West Main and Old Mill Race and had gone to a brother’s house nearby to call police.
Luster interviewed Wright while waiting for Church Hill EMS to arrive. Wright reportedly stated that he was attempting to pull out of Old Mill Race Road when a blue four-door Chrysler pulled up and blocked his path.
Wright identified the driver of the Chrysler as Terry Lee Allen, 45, 118 Oxford Drive, Church Hill.
“Wright stated that Allen got out of his vehicle and approached Wright,” Luster said in the arrest warrant affidavit. “Wright got out of his vehicle to see what Allen wanted. At that point, Wright stated, Allen stabbed him in the stomach with some type of object that he didn’t see.”
Wright was transported to the Holston Valley Medical Center where he remained listed in stable condition as of Sunday.
Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies reportedly spotted the blue Chrysler parked near Allen’s home, and Allen was taken into custody after a search of the area.
Allen, who was questioned by CHPD Detective Kevin Grigsby, initially denied being involved in an altercation with Wright.
In a second statement, Allen allegedly told Grigsby he was confronted by Wright at the car wash.
“He had some type of knifelike object that he wore as a necklace,” CHPD Chief Mark Johnson said. “During the physical confrontation between the two, the victim apparently got cut. But, Mr. Allen said that after the victim got cut by the knifelike necklace that he wore, after he left the scene he decided to throw it out somewhere. No knifelike object or knife was recovered.”
Johnson added, “It’s not been confirmed, but apparently this was over a female.”
Allen was charged with aggravated assault. Sunday morning Allen was released from the Hawkins County Jail on bond.