Manatee County man charged with stabbing another man during fight

A 42-year-old Manatee County man has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after he stabbed another man in the head and torso during a fight, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say the victim is in critical condition and Jaime Mondragon is in jail.

According to the sheriff’s office, Mondragon and the victim were outside one of the residences at Falkner Farms at about 2:45 a.m. Monday playing a drinking game when an argument began. A witness came out of another residence and found the two fighting.

Deputies say at some point in the fight, Mondragon stabbed the 28-year-old victim in the torso and head several times.

Two other workers loaded the victim into a vehicle to get the injured man away from Mondragon and drove to Bayside Church while calling 911. The injuries were severe enough to require a life flight, but all aircraft were grounded due to bad weather.

The victim was taken to Blake Medical Center where he was admitted into intensive care and remains in critical condition, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies responded to the scene of the fight and located Mondragon, who was arrested on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. While in jail on that charge, probable cause was developed and Mondragon was charged with the stabbing.