Peace Garden News

The Minot Police Department has announced that Isac Chaves-Zapata faces charges of attempted murder following a stabbing incident on September 28 at a South Broadway restaurant. The police reported that the victim is in stable condition and that Chaves-Zapata later surrendered to authorities.

According to the department, officers were alerted at 9:48 p.m. when a stabbing victim arrived at Trinity Health. Investigators determined that the assault took place at a South Broadway restaurant, after which the suspect fled on foot. A multi-hour search ensued, involving SWAT teams, K9 units, drones, and assistance from the Ward County Sheriff’s Department and North Dakota Highway Patrol around 21st Avenue and 13th Street SE. The suspect subsequently contacted police and surrendered at a southeast Minot hotel without incident; a suspected weapon was recovered nearby.

Under North Dakota law, criminal attempt is punished in accordance with the class of the underlying offense; thus, attempted murder is treated as a Class A felony. This classification carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $20,000 fine, or both. These legal frameworks guide charging decisions, plea negotiations, and bond discussions in cases involving violent incidents.

Statewide metrics provide context for trends in serious violence. North Dakota recorded 24 homicide deaths in 2023, resulting in a rate of 3.1 per 100,000 residents according to the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Although annual incident counts can vary due to the state's small population size, officials stress that swift arrests and high clearance rates are crucial for maintaining public confidence and deterring retaliatory violence, especially in metropolitan areas like Minot and Bismarck.

The Minot Police Department serves as the municipal law enforcement agency for the City of Minot, North Dakota. Led by Chief John Klug, it operates divisions including Patrol, Investigations, and Administration while providing services such as emergency response (911/PSAP), records management, and specialized support through SWAT and K9 units. The headquarters are located at 515 2nd Avenue SW with a mission focused on community safety, crime reduction, and transparent policing within a city of approximately 47,000 residents in a metro area housing about 76,000 people.