A transient man allegedly stabbed another man in the chest Sunday morning because he believed he had been sold fake gold jewelry, court records state.
Henry Castillo, 56, made a first appearance Monday in Clark County Superior Court on allegations of first-degree robbery and first-degree assault.
The victim, 45-year-old Scott Allen Chappelle, suffered a stab wound to his chest, which caused internal bleeding and required a chest tube to drain, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Chappelle was in satisfactory condition Monday at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.
Vancouver police were called about 8:40 a.m. Sunday to the 1300 block of Lincoln Street for a reported stabbing. Chappelle said he was stabbed in the chest by a man named Henry, later identified by police as Castillo. Chappelle said he met with Castillo to sell him a gold ring. But during the transaction, Castillo stabbed him and took the ring from his hand, the affidavit states.
Castillo reportedly frequents the area and is known to police from a prior incident, court records say.
Police returned to the scene about two hours later and spotted Castillo in his vehicle. Castillo sped off but was stopped near 13th and Daniels streets, according to court documents.
Castillo admitted to being involved in an altercation with Chappelle earlier that morning. He said he paid Chappelle $40 for gold jewelry that turned out to be fake. When he confronted Chappelle about the jewelry and demanded his money back, Chappelle refused and ran away, the affidavit states.
Castillo said he chased Chappelle and punched him while he had a folding knife in his hand. The knife was closed, Castillo said, but opened when he threw the punch, accidentally stabbing Chappelle, according to court documents.
He stayed at the scene with Chappelle and told him he needed medical attention, Castillo said, but Chappelle told him to “just leave,” court records say.
Police reportedly found the jewelry and folding knife in Castillo’s vehicle.
Deputy Prosecutor Kristine Foerster said Monday that Castillo has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1982 in California, including second-degree robbery and attempted second-degree murder.
She asked that Castillo be held on $500,000 bail. Judge Bernard Veljacic granted the request.
Castillo will be arraigned May 4.
