Cherokee man stabbed in domestic altercation

 

September 29, 2021



A man was stabbed during an altercation when a woman asked friends to help her remove belongings from the home of her boyfriend since she was trying to break up with him. The incident occurred in Cherokee on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

According to court records, Cherokee Police Officer Tristan Hall responded to an active domestic incident at the Chaparral Apartments at 8:07 p.m. While he was on the way, he was informed by dispatch that one individual had been stabbed.

On arrival, Officer Hall immediately drew his service pistol and began giving orders for people to put their hands in the air. Tamel Lewis who lives at the apartments had been stabbed, and those at the scene said Tamiko Turner was the one who stabbed him. Turner was placed in handcuffs and a white-handled folding pocket knife was retrieved from his left back pocket. Hall placed Turner in his vehicle while he went to speak to Lewis.

Hall observed Lewis had blood on the left side of his t-shirt and on the left side of his head. He asked to see where he had been stabbed, and Lewis lifted his shirt. Hall observed a puncture on his abdomen and another in his armpit region. Lewis stated he wanted to press charges on Turner because Turner had come into his home and attacked him. EMS arrived and Lewis was immediately transported to Share Medical Center in Alva. Hall was later informed Lewis was transferred to OU Medical in Oklahoma City.

Hall next spoke to April Mauldin who stated she had been dealing with Lewis over the last few days and had been trying to break up with him. She said she came to the apartment to try to get some clothes so she could stay with Colleen Bradford. She said she sent Turner and Bradford into the apartment to see if Lewis was there because she was afraid to enter if he was. Turner, not seeing anyone, got her dog and took it out.

After she was told Lewis was not there, Mauldin entered. She asked Bradford if they checked the back rooms, and Bradford began to talk back that way. Lewis appeared from the room, and Mauldin said she ran behind the kitchen table. She and Lewis began to shove the table back and forth, and she said Lewis shoved the table into her and forced her against the wall.

Mauldin said Bradford was trying to get her to run past Lewis and out the front door. Lewis then ran over to shut and lock the door. Mauldin said Lewis and Turner began fighting, and she heard Lewis yell he was stabbed, but she didn’t believe him. She was then able to make it out of the apartment with Bradford and Turner. She said that’s when the police arrived.

Hall had Mauldin take him up to the apartment to walk through the events. When he entered the apartment, he saw the table in the middle of the kitchen with two chairs lying down. Mauldin said the chairs were now broken. Hall also observed a large scratch on the kitchen floor consistent with the table being slid back and forth.

Hall then spoke with Bradford who had the same recollection of events as Mauldin except she added more details. Bradford stated she was pushed out of the way when Lewis came out of the bedroom and when he locked the door. Bradford also stated when Lewis and Turner were fighting, Lewis stuck Turner first and was dragging him toward the hallway while they were fighting.

Bradford said when Lewis appeared he began talking to Turner saying, “What’s up,” and then Lewis ran toward the kitchen saying, “I am going to beat your ***,” directed toward Mauldin and he started slamming the table into Mauldin.

Bradford said Lewis went to the open door and pushed her out of the way. Turner began to tell Lewis to calm down, and Lewis began to punch Turner and hit his head on the wall. She said Lewis started to drag Turner toward the back room, saying the police are coming. She stated Lewis suddenly let Turner go, and they ran outside.

Bradford said Lewis told Mauldin, “You not going anywhere. You going to do this, it OK. I’m going to get you,” Bradford said she told Mauldin to come outside, and she was going to call the police.

Officer Hall then spoke to Turner who had been sitting in his police vehicle while Chief McNeil was removing the handcuffs from Turner. Hall observed several injuries to Turner’s head and face. Turner also showed that his hands had been cut from sliding up the knife. Turner also had blood on his clothing.

Turner stated he went into the house and got the dog, took it out and came back upstairs. He said Lewis popped out of one of the back bedrooms and started tell him, “What’s up, bro,” and then went to the kitchen after Mauldin. Turner said Lewis was pushing the table into Mauldin. He said Lewis went and locked the door and pushed Bradford. Turner said he then confronted Lewis.

Turner said he told Lewis to calm down, he was trippin’. That is when Lewis began hitting him and hitting his head on the wall. Turned stated he was fighting back, and Lewis was dragging him toward the back rooms. Turner said he pulled out his knife and stabbed Lewis in self-defense because he did not know what else to do. Once Lewis let him go, he stated he ran out of the apartment. Turner was checked out by EMS and the injuries photographed.

After getting statements and having Mauldin and Turner evaluated by EMS, Hall released them to go home. He later met back with them to retrieve the knife that was in Bradford’s possession as he observed it in her hand at the scene. He needed to evaluate it to insure it was not used in the incident. The next morning, Hall met with Mauldin and asked if she would allow the apartment to be searched. She agreed and signed a consent form.

Hall, McNeil and Officer Cross went to the apartment and photographed the damage to the floor and the apartment. Hall located several spots of blood that were believed to be cast-off from the altercation. During the search, a gray backpack was found hanging in the hallway closet. Mauldin stated it belonged to Lewis. In searching the backpack, Hall found a pipe with white residue that based on his training and experience he knew to be a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine. The bag and its contents were seized and booked into evidence.

On Sept. 20 in Alfalfa County, Tamel Laron Lewis, 35, of Cherokee, was charged with two felonies: (1) second and subsequent domestic abuse – assault and battery and (2) kidnapping.

The domestic abuse charge is punishable by imprisonment up to four years or a fine of $5,000, or both. The kidnapping charge is punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years. Bond in the case has been set at $100,000.

 
 

Reader Comments(1)

Taxpayer writes:

Tristan Hall has abused his rights as a public servant to many times. It’s about time we do something about him as a community.

 
 
 

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