New Mexico man faces status hearing for alleged stabbing

A New Mexico man was arraigned in Justice Court on Monday for battery causing substantial bodily harm and will return to court on Thursday for a status hearing.

Officers from both the Fallon Police Department and Churchill County Sheriff’s Office arrested Oryan Yazzie, 34, of Albuquerque Thursday night for allegedly stabbing a Fallon man in the abdomen.

Yazzie, according to witnesses, had an argument with family members and then allegedly stabbed 55-year-old Ricky St. Amant shortly before 6 p.m. Paramedics took St. Amant to Banner Churchill Community Hospital where he underwent surgery. FPD did not have a report on his condition.

Witnesses said Yazzie fled on foot from 535 Esmeralda St. In a statement, FPD learned Yazzie was wanted by the U.S. Marshal’s Service for violating both parole and probation from a previous kidnapping and sexual assault conviction.

FPD and CCSO canvassed the neighborhood and notified residents of the suspect’s description. Officers received a tip and observed a man fitting Yazzi’s description walking several blocks away from the crime scene.

Officers arrested Yazzie without incident at 6:57 p.m. and took him to the Churchill County Jail where he was booked on charges of battery with substantial bodily harm.