A 42-year-old man stabbed a Rogers Park bar patron twice, threatened him with a knife, and chased him through a parking lot after an argument spilled outside earlier this month, prosecutors said.
Jose Reyes Valenzuela is charged with three counts of aggravated battery in connection with the October 12 stabbing at La Puerta Negra, 7124 North Clark Street. Judge Deidre Dyer granted prosecutors’ petition to detain him pending trial.
The 40-year-old victim went to the bar with a companion at about 10:40 p.m., according to prosecutors. Valenzuela was there separately with two coworkers. An argument broke out between the victim’s companion and Valenzuela’s group, prompting the bar’s owner to remove the companion. As the victim and his companion headed toward the exit, someone stabbed the victim in the back and side, prosecutors said.
Surveillance footage from a neighboring building showed the victim and his companion leaving the bar, followed by Valenzuela and three other people, according to prosecutors. Valenzuela appeared to be holding a knife while yelling at the pair and trying to charge at them.
His friends restrained him, but Valenzuela broke free and rushed toward the victim, who removed his belt to defend himself, prosecutors said. The friends intervened again and pulled Valenzuela away, allowing the victim and his companion to walk to their car in a nearby parking lot.
The car was unlocked, but the companion could not find the keys, leaving the pair unable to drive away. Valenzuela later came back outside carrying a knife. He approached the companion on the driver’s side and waved the weapon before moving to the passenger side, where he allegedly waved it in the victim’s face. The victim ran, and Valenzuela chased him until the victim escaped and took cover. The companion eventually found him and called 911. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Police recovered a box cutter from Valenzuela’s pants and a second metal knife with blood on its blade, prosecutors said. Both weapons were swabbed for DNA. During an interview with detectives, Valenzuela said he had blacked out and could not remember what happened in the parking lot, according to prosecutors.
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