Little Rock resident Deontae McCrystal remains in the Saline County
Detention Center on a charge of Aggravated Assault, a Class D Felony,
in the stabbing of City of Alexander Council Member Jeffery Watson.
McCrystal is 19. Bond has been set at $50,000.
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Deontae McCrystal
Saline County Detention
Center photo
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The incident
occurred on the evening of April 21, around 10 PM, in front of
Watson’s home on Valley Drive. According to the police report
several witnesses, including Watson’s wife Regina, told Officer
Nick Salyers, “[A] group of individuals came down the road and
attempted to fight,” with an individual whose name has been
redacted. Apparently, the “fighting” involved two females over a
male acquaintance.
The police report
states Watson tried to get between the two females to break up the
fight. “At this time three males … had jumped on Mr. Watson.”
Watson then returned to the porch and told his wife he was bleeding.
It was then police
were called and Alexander K-9 Officer Nick Salyers arrived on the
scene. Salyers provided medical aide to reduce the bleeding. Salyers
later received a Life Saving Award. More on that can be found here.
Once the ambulance
arrived and took Watson to Baptist Hospital Officer Salyers began
questioning witnesses. According to the report members of the Watson
family said some of the males involved lived on Mountain Drive.
With the arrival of
Chief Robert Burnett and Assistant Chief Richard Harper the three
went to the Mountain Drive address provided by the Watsons. Once
Police Detective Jessica Burnett arrived she and Chief Burnett went
to the back door. Assistant Chief Harper and Officer Salyers went to
the front door. After advising the homeowner of the situation the
officers were allowed to enter.
“We entered the
residence and located six individuals including the three male
subjects that matched the descriptions given by the witnesses,”
Officer Salyers states in the report. Two of the males were detained
for questioning and McCrystal was handcuffed.
Officer Salyers
walks McCrystal to his police vehicle. McCrystal was asked by Officer
Salyers, “[I]f he had any weapons.”
The report quotes
McCrystal as stating, “Yes, a knife.”
Officer Salyers
asked McCrystal, “What knife?”
According to the
report McCrystal said, “The one I stabbed him with.”
Using gloves Officer
Salyers removed the knife and placed it into an evidence bag. The
remaining items were removed from McCrystal’s pockets. He was
placed into the police vehicle, read his Miranda Rights and
transported to the Saline County Detention Center where he was booked
and charged with Aggravated Assault.
Watson was
transported to Baptist Hospital where he recovered. He was able to
attend the May meeting of the Alexander City Council.