Man asks for immigration to ‘take him away’ after allegedly stabbing man at Oaklawn stables

A local man was arrested Thursday about 90 minutes after he stabbed another man in the arm during an altercation in the stable barracks at Oaklawn and later asked for “immigration” to “take him away.”

Amilcar Hernandez Vasquez, 54, who listed his address as Oaklawn, 2705 Central Ave., was taken into custody there shortly after 1:30 p.m. and charged with second-degree battery, punishable by up to six years in prison.

Vasquez, who lists no prior criminal history locally, was initially being held on a $2,500 bond with a Garland County District Court date to be set. A zero bond hold was later placed on him by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before noon, Hot Springs police responded to Oaklawn regarding a stabbing that had just occurred and made contact with the male victim at one of the guard shacks.

Officers noted the victim had a stab wound to his left forearm that was bleeding. He told them the stabbing had occurred in one of the stable barracks called “Heavenly Price” and provided a description of his attacker, a Hispanic male.

The victim was transported by LifeNet to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, where he was treated and released less than an hour later and taken to the HSPD to be interviewed by Detective Shawn Woodall through an interpreter.

The victim said he, the suspect and others had been drinking all morning, and then the victim went to sleep. He said he was awakened by the suspect punching him and “trying to fight him.” He said he was able to shove him off and stood up, and the two men began fighting each other.

During the fight, the suspect allegedly pulled out a fixed-blade knife and stabbed the victim in the forearm. The suspect then left the area with the knife as the victim went to find help.

Oaklawn security was able to provide photos of individuals staying in the barracks at Heavenly Price, including a photo of Vasquez, and the victim positively identified him as the one who had stabbed him.

Officers were able to locate Vasquez in the barracks and take him to the police department to be interviewed. He was read his rights through an interpreter and reportedly refused to give a statement and would only say “he wished to have immigration take him away.”