A Van Buren man accused of stabbing another man several times on Christmas Eve is being held in the Crawford County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond, officials said.
With his hands and ankles shackled, Quan Phung, 34, appeared before Crawford County Circuit Judge Mike Medlock on Friday morning (Dec. 27) for an initial court appearance. He was ordered to appear in court again on Jan. 8.
Phung faces a felony charge of first-degree battery in connection with the stabbing, according to the Van Buren Police Department.
The man he is accused of stabbing, Richard Kosier, 37, was listed Dec. 27 in critical condition in Mercy Hospital, officials said.
Police said they were called to the 2200 block of Pebble Circle on Dec. 24 at 11:30 p.m. There, they found Kosier with at least three stab wounds, authorities said.
"It's just you know a lot of rukus on Christmas Eve, you don't expect that of course," said Eelco Beket, neighbor. "They pulled a stretcher out and then went inside got a guy out on a stretcher."
The victim was then taken to Mercy in critical condition, according to Van Buren police.
Police said the suspect, later identified by investigators as Phung, left the scene of the stabbing after the incident.
Fort Smith Police arrested Phung Thursday night (Dec. 26) after Van Buren police issued a warrant for Phung's arrest earlier that morning.
A tip led Fort Smith police to Phung's location, where he was arrested without incident, police said.