A 51-year-old Topaz Ranch Estates man was charged with attempted murder and two other felonies accused of stabbing his live-in girlfriend and forcing her to ingest pain relievers.
Terrence Joseph Howell was being held on $50,000 cash bail following his arrest Thursday by 15 members of the Douglas County Special Weapons and Tactics team and other deputies.
He is to appear in East Fork Justice Court on Wednesday on charges including attempted murder and domestic battery with a deadly weapon.
In an affidavit for a search warrant, investigators said the victim and Howell began arguing early Thursday.
She said Howell slammed her forehead into a kitchen counter and she fell to the ground. He pinned her and threatened her with a 12-18-inch "Bowie-style" ornamental knife, she told deputies.
He cut her when he put the tip to her neck in an effort to force her to take Vicodin. The victim said he wanted to make her death look like a suicide.
She said she spit out all but three of the pain relievers.
He cut her left hand as they continued to fight.
She said Howell threatened to kill her or any deputies with a handgun.
She told deputies that Howell has other knives in the house and a crossbow.
The victim said she managed to escape to a neighbor's who gave her a ride to a nearby urgent care center. She was referred to Carson Valley Medical Center for treatment where deputies were contacted.
Howell surrendered without incident about noon on Thursday.
According to court documents he has been arrested two times for domestic battery and has several other arrests including battery on a police officer. He is a registered felon for narcotics violations.
Court document indicated eight contacts with law enforcement since 1997.
