Orem man accused of plunging a knife through friend's chin

OREM — An Orem man has been arrested after police say he plunged a knife up through his friend's chin so deep that it came within millimeters of his brain stem.

Fidel Ruiz Quintana, 43, was at the victim's house Friday night into Saturday morning having a few drinks with the victim and another friend when the two got into an argument that turned physical, said Orem Police Sgt. Craig Martinez.

The victim and the other friend disarmed Quintana of two knives and told him to leave the house, according to an affidavit filed in 4th District Court. The Orem man suddenly pulled a third knife and stabbed the victim, who was sitting on a couch, the affidavit states.

"The knife went through the bottom of his mouth up through his tongue," Martinez said.

The victim was rushed to Orem Community Hospital, but after doctors saw the severity of the wound, he was transferred to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

Quintana, who had fled the scene, was later picked up by Orem police after someone made a suspicious person call, Martinez said.

Police asked Quintana about the stabbing and Quintana told them he had been in a fight with two men earlier. When the friend was brought to the scene and identified Quintana as the man who stabbed the victim, Quintana was "smiling and nodding his head," the affidavit states.

Quintana was booked into jail for investigation of attempted murder and possession of paraphernalia and will have his first hearing Oct. 19. As of Tuesday, the victim was at his home recovering, Martinez said.

?— Sara Lenz