Las Cruces tattoo artist arrested in stabbing

Las Cruces Police have arrested a tattoo artist for allegedly stabbing a man during a confrontation Monday morning.

Jaime “Bolo” Monarrez, 36, is charged with one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

At around 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Las Cruces Police were sent to the Sick West tattoo shop at 600 S. Solano Dr. where the incident allegedly occurred.

Police say that a 19-year-old man and Monarrez had been in a verbal confrontation with each other two weeks earlier.

Police say that Monarrez and a female employee were working at the shop when the 19-year-old man came in and asked for a specific tattoo artist.

Shortly thereafter, Monarrez allegedly approached the man in an aggressive manner, forcing the man to defend himself.

The two began fighting when Monarrez is believed to have grabbed a bottle and struck the man on the left side of his head, according to police.

The bottle shattered upon impact and police say that Monarrez then tried to stab the victim with a piece of the bottle.

The 19-year-old victim received a cut to an arm before he was able to leave the business and call 911.

Police located Monarrez at an apartment complex near the business and detained him for questioning.

Police say surveillance video from the store appeared to corroborate the victim’s statement.

Monarrez and the victim both received relatively minor injuries during the fight.

Monarrez was found to be in violation of probation and was subsequently booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center without bond.