A homeless man was arrested Wednesday evening after a dispute over whether he was following another man’s girlfriend resulted in a stabbing.
According to department officials, Casper police officers went to a hotel in Casper in response to a report of a stabbing. There, they were told an adult male had been stabbed multiple times outside of the hotel by an unknown person who fled the scene.
The victim was taken to the Wyoming Medical Center, where emergency surgery was conducted. The man remained in critical condition Thursday morning.
Within two hours of the assault taking place, officers located and arrested the suspect, Woodrow Neal, 55, a homeless man with no apparent ties to the Casper area.
Neal was charged with one count of aggravated assault and battery, a felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.
The victim and Neal did not know each other, investigators said, and the assault appeared to have been the result of a confrontation between the two men that began when the victim accused Neal of following his girlfriend.
“This case highlights the tireless dedication of the men and women who wear the Casper Police Department badge,” said Deputy Chief of Police Shane Chaney. “Had it not been for the quick thinking, investigative training, and sheer determination of these officers to get a violent offender off the street, this suspect may not have been located. Our citizens should be proud of the level of professionalism displayed here to not only find the suspect but bring justice to the victim in this case.”
The case remains under active investigation by the Casper Police Department. Further information will be released as it becomes available.
