The Cortez Police Department is waiting for the District Attorneys Office to issue or deny an arrest warrant for a Cortez man who allegedly stabbed another patron at Blondies Pub and Grill on Aug. 16.
According to the police report, Mark Dunn stabbed Josh Pankoff twice as the two prepared to fight outside of the bar.
Pankoff told police he did not know the name of the person who stabbed him, saying he had never seen him before, though witnesses at the bar told officers that Dunn was the person who committed the stabbing.
Pankoff said he was in town for work and had gone to Blondies with a friend and saw the man identified as Dunn, who he said was boasting to others about the time spent in the military and his experience with knives and guns.
After growing tired of listening to Dunn, Pankoff said he challenged Dunn to fight. The two went outside to the patio and down the stairs, and that was when Dunn allegedly pulled out the knife.
Pankoff told officers that when he saw Dunn with the knife, he dared him to use it, saying, If you think you are tough, go ahead and stab me. Dunn reportedly then stabbed him before fleeing down the alley.
Cortez police were unsuccessful in locating Dunn.
According to the police report, Pankoff had wounds to his stomach and right arm. Neither was life-threatening, although the arm wound required surgery.
Officers found a knife they believe was the one used to stab Pankoff.
Montezuma County deputies responded to other law-enforcement calls within the city limits while police officers were occupied with the aftermath of the fight.
Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane said no arrest can be made without the warrant, which the department requested on the grounds of first-degree assault and menacing. CPD referred all questions to the District Attorneys Office.
Assistant DA Andy Hughes said earlier this week that the DAs office had just received the paperwork on the case and will be reviewing it to determine whether or not to file charges. He said the process could take up to two weeks. Hughes said he could not comment on the warrant because he knew nothing about it. On Friday, Aug. 24, the DAs office said nothing about the warrant was in the file.
Hughes is running for district attorney as a write-in candidate. He will face Will Furse, who defeated current DA Russell Wasley in the Republican primary.
michaelm@cortezjournal.com
