No one charged in Dickinson stabbings

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More than a week after three men were stabbed and another was badly beaten in Dickinson, no one has been charged and none of the accused are in jail, authorities said Monday.

Conflicting stories are impeding the investigation, according to the Dickinson Police Department.

The incident began when a 43-year-old Dickinson man was attacked and beaten by at least three men on Oct. 16 outside a Dickinson hotel, according to DPD.

Dominic Baiza, 37, of Arlington, Texas, was arrested at the scene for allegedly stabbing three men numerous times, Dickinson Police Capt. Joe Cianni said.

However, Stark County State’s Attorney Tom Henning said Baiza was never charged and he was released from jail Oct. 17 without a bond hearing.

“He was let go because it required further investigation and what we had at the time was indicative that he was not a threat,” Henning said. “At this point, any further charging decision awaits the completion of that investigation and a report to me.”

DPD Sgt. David Wilkie said they may end up with no one being prosecuted.

“There’s a possibility that’s exactly what will happen, is that nobody will be charged,” Wilkie said. “We can’t charge anybody unless we have a clear picture of what happened.”

Wilkie said he understands why a lack of charges or arrests may be alarming to area residents, but he and Henning say none of those involved are a danger to the public.

“You have the right to defend yourself or others,” Wilkie said. “If this was a little old lady that was getting jumped by three guys and a guy jumped in and stabbed a couple of them … the guy would probably get a medal, right?”

He fears similar incidents may arise in the community because of people moving in from larger cities.

“People are going to be more willing to defend themselves,” Wilkie said. “It is not illegal to carry a knife or to use it in defense of yourself if your life is being threatened or your welfare is being threatened. That’s not a crime.”

A 31-year-old Gladstone resident, a 30-year-old Dickinson resident and a 27-year-old Mandan resident were hospitalized for stab wounds, Cianni said.

Although the 43-year-old Dickinson resident was badly beaten, he refused medical attention, authorities said.

“I’m unable to determine who even assaulted him,” Wilkie said. “Just because these guys were stabbed, doesn’t mean that they were the ones who actually physically assaulted him. I know through my investigation that some of these guys weren’t involved in the assault.”

However, it’s unclear why they were stabbed.

“I know the guy that did the stabbing wasn’t just running around the parking lot poking people, but I can’t determine where they were at or what they were doing that ended up with them getting stabbed because I just have so many conflicting statements,” Wilkie said. “The stabbing victims themselves, their statements don’t enlighten anything either.”

He said two of the stabbing victims are out of the hospital, but is unsure whether the third has been released.

“I believe the guy who did the stabbing has already returned back to Texas,” Wilkie said.

Wilkie said he continues to conduct interviews to get a clearer picture of what happened and the investigation is ongoing.

Tags: news, local, dickinson, stabbings