Cleveland, Tenn., police arrest pair in stabbing at Bi-Lo

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Nathan Goforth
Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog

Cleveland, Tenn., police on Friday arrested a man and woman they believe were involved in the stabbing of two people in a Bi-Lo parking lot late Thursday.

Officers charged Nathan Goforth with two counts of aggravated assault and Melissa Dawn Patterson with being an accessory after the fact. A series of Cleveland Police Department news releases give this account:

Bridget Wagner and Angela Thomas went to Bi-Lo at 2310 McGrady Drive about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. When they returned to their car, Wagner heard screams. She ran around to the driver's side of the car, where she found Goforth stabbing Thomas, an incident report states.

Goforth is Wagner's former boyfriend, and she tried to stop him. He then stabbed Wagner, too, police said. Thomas stepped into the fray and Goforth stabbed her again, according to police.

Patterson then pulled up in a burgundy Chevrolet Tahoe.

"Get in!" she yelled at Thomas, and drove him away.

Thomas and Wagner, both of Cleveland, were taken to SkyRidge Medical Center and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.

About 1 p.m. Friday, Cleveland police received a phone call. A person whose identity officers are protecting told them the Tahoe was parked near APD 40 outside the Whitewater Lodge. Officers found Goforth and Patterson there.

Two 4-year-olds were in the victims' car and saw the attack, police said. Neither was hurt, and the Tennessee Department of Children's Services was called.