Guin man faces assault charges after alleged stabbing

ASHRIDGE    -  A Guin man faces assault charges after allegedly stabbing an Ashridge man in the chest then fleeing the scene to Fayette County, where he was apprehended.
Jeffrey Allen Martin, 56, has been charged with first degree assault in the stabbing of a 31-year-old Ashridge man, according to Winston County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Josh Edwards, noting this is a Class B felony.
The victim, who suffered a single stab wound to the chest that reportedly punctured his lung, was transported from his residence in a private vehicle to Lakeland Community Hospital in Haleyville, where he was treated then transferred to UAB, authorities said.
As of press time, the victim was listed in stable condition, according to Edwards.
Around 4:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, Haleyville Police Department dispatch contacted Winston County dispatch, stating that the victim had been allegedly stabbed by Martin at the victim’s residence on County Road 55 in the Ashridge area, investigators said.
Based on this information, Winston County Sheriff Caleb Snoddy and Cpl. Jason Bridges responded to Lakeland Hospital, where the victim was being treated, Edwards said.
A verbal and physical altercation between the victim and Martin that allegedly occurred outside the victim’s residence led to Martin allegedly using a pocket knife to stab the victim, according to Edwards.
After the stabbing, Martin reportedly fled the scene in a Dodge Caravan, according to witnesses at the scene.  Authorities believed Martin was possibly heading to his brother’s residence in Marion County, investigators said.  A bulletin was put out for law enforcement to be on the lookout for the Dodge Caravan, Edwards said.
Based on the bulletin, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office went to Martin’s brother’s residence, learning that Martin had been there, but had just left, according to investigators.
“They had just missed him by approximately 15 minutes,” Edwards stated.
“We had (Martin) on video at a gas station in Marion County getting $10 worth of gas,” Edwards added.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office then located Martin sitting in the Dodge Caravan parked behind a residence in the Berry area, sheriff’s investigators said.
Fayette County took Martin into custody and transported him to a business in the Eldridge area, where they were met by Snoddy, investigators stated.
Snoddy transported Martin back to Winston County, where he was booked on Tuesday, Feb. 27, into the county jail in Double Springs, Edwards said.  An investigative hold was placed on Martin, according to Edwards.
“I have already spoken to him, interviewed him and got a confession,” Edwards pointed out.
An investigation is underway as to what led to the altercation, since Edwards is receiving conflicting statements, he said.
Edwards commended all of the involved agencies for their cooperation leading to the apprehension of Martin.
“We want to thank the surrounding agencies for helping us,” Edwards said, referring to sheriff’s offices in Marion and Fayette counties.
“That is what happens when people work together,” said Edwards. “Get the information, share the information, especially on incidents like this, where you have an offender who has already stabbed one person.
“You don’t know what state of mind that person is in at the time,” Edwards continued. “It’s very important to get that information out, not only to the other agencies within the county, but the surrounding counties.”

*When a defendant is charged with a crime, the charge is merely an accusation until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.