Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

One dead following Saturday altercation

One Gurdon man is dead and another is in police custody following an altercation in Gurdon on Saturday evening.

According to Gurdon City Marshal Don Childres, police were called to a fight in progress at 319 Childres Street around 5:30 p.m. Saturday. He said it did not take long for officers to arrive on scene, but the victim, Jamie Bell, 41, of 402 = E. Joslyn St., was already wounded when officers arrived.

When we got there, he was already down on the ground unresponsive, Childres said on Monday.

Childres said a knife was involved in the altercation, and Bell had been cut on the arm. He was transported by ambulance to Baptist Health Medical Center - Arkadelphia where he was pronounced dead, Childres said. His body has reportedly been transferred to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for an autopsy.

Childres said Gurdon police called investigators from the Arkansas State Police and Clark County Sheriffs Department in to assist at the scene.

Clark County Criminal Investigation Department Officer Tim Patterson said L.J. Green, 35, of 606 S. 3rd St., was arrested later Saturday evening in relation to the incident. Charges have not yet been filed in connection with the stabbing.

Arkansas State Police investigator Dennis Morris is leading the investigation and is reportedly awaiting the preliminary autopsy results from the crime lab to know the cause of death. Once that information is known, he is expected to meet with the Clark County prosecuting attorney to determine the appropriate charges for Green.

Morris said he hopes to get the case wrapped up quickly and will continue to interview potential witnesses today.

Patterson said he believes alcohol was involved in the incident.