20-year-old Nelson Tut Gutz arrived at his apartment intoxicated and started an argument with his roommate, Emerson Fernandolriarte-Calderon, on August 5. Nelson stated that he did not like Emerson because he was from Honduras. He also said that Nelson punched him in the face, which the officers noted swelling under his right eye. Nelson then grabbed a large kitchen knife (approximately six inches) and aggressively approached Emerson. Emerson said that Nelson followed him outside while still holding the knife and said, “I’ll be waiting for you with a knife.” He was standing outside the complex shirtless and shoeless as he spoke to the police because he said he was afraid to return to the apartment.
Police found Nelson asleep at the kitchen table with a knife within arm’s reach and nothing else to suggest the usage of a knife. They removed the knife and woke Nelson to ask him about the situation. He initially stated that he did not know anything of an incident between him and Emerson. Intoxicated, he told police that he had no idea why they were called and made comments that did not pertain to the situation. After police rephrased the questions for the translator whom Nelson spoke to via a cellphone, he said he remembered the altercation and was “calm now.” Nelson admitted to grabbing the knife but did not answer if he remembered the threat he made with it. He finally gave the police his driver’s license after some miscommunications and was placed into custody.
