Man charged in stabbing over $30 debt

FARMINGTON — A 33-year-old man was accused last week of slashing another man with a knife over a $30 debt.

Ardaniel Bekise was charged Thursday in Farmington Magistrate Court with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

He is being held at San Juan County Adult Detention Center on a $10,000 bond, according to court records.

He has not yet retained legal representation, records state.

Farmington police detectives were dispatched at 7:45 p.m. on Nov. 9 to San Juan Regional Medical Center after receiving reports that a man was being treated for a knife wound to the arm, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Shawn Miller told detectives at the hospital he was at his residence on La Plata Drive when "Ardy" and a second man showed up and demanded he pay them $30. Miller said he knew Ardy from when they worked together at Pizza Hut, the affidavit states.

Miller told Ardy to leave and Ardy then pulled out a knife and slashed his left arm, which began bleeding profusely, the affidavit states. Miller told detectives Ardy and the man fled his residence in a white passenger car.

Miller's roommate told detectives she witnessed the stabbing and identified Ardy as "Ardaniel Beske," the affidavit states.

The roommate and Miller both identified Bekise as the attacker in a photo array, according to an affidavit.

Bekise will appear at a preliminary examination hearing today.

Steve Garrison covers crime and courts for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4644.