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SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man was arrested after police say he stabbed a woman in the face sometime Thursday morning.
Dontel Nako Cowans, 22, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated assault.
Around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the area near 300 East and 1100 South where a resident reported a woman was lying on the ground and had been stabbed, according to a statement from Salt Lake police. The woman was found with stab wounds to her face and eye, as well as bruising on her neck and vaginal bleeding, a police booking affidavit states.
The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, and she had to be intubated to help her breathe, the affidavit says. She also had lost a large amount of blood. Police say a trail of blood began in the passenger seat of a car registered to Cowans and continued down the alley to where the woman was found.
Forensic investigators later found a bloody fingerprint on the exterior of the car. Using a fingerprint database, police say they identified the fingerprint as belonging to Cowan, the affidavit says.
Bike squad officers later went to Cowans' home and arrested him, according to the statement. Police later executed a search warrant of Cowans' home and began to collect evidence.
"Due to evidence located inside the residence, detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department's Special Investigations Unit responded to the residence to assist detectives," the statement says, adding that the unit "handles a variety of cases, including drug-related crimes."
In addition to his recent arrest, court records show Cowans was charged earlier this week in a separate case stemming from an arrest back on March 18. Cowans was charged Wednesday with failing to stop at the command of law enforcement, a third-degree felony, and various misdemeanor charges, including carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence.
Court records filed Friday indicate that prosecutors are trying to use the separate case as a reason to hold Cowans in jail without bail. Cowans has yet to make an initial court appearance in connection with either case.
