Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A man was given a $250,000 cash/surety bond Friday as court documents state that he stabbed his Lyft driver while he was drunk and attempted to steal the driver’s vehicle in a Jonesboro fight.

District Judge David Boling found probable cause July 10 to charge 36-year-old Jake E. Laport with the following offenses:

• Criminal attempt (Class A felony)
• Second-degree battery/recklessly cause serious injuries while intoxicated (Class C felony)

According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 8, Jonesboro police officers were dispatched to a home on Griffin Street for a fight involving two people, one of whom had left the scene in an SUV.

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While at the scene, officers found Laport lying underneath a vehicle without a shirt and a busted lip, noting he was uncooperative, refused to give his name, and smelled of alcohol. A search of Laport revealed an item that may have been used to stab the victim. He also acknowledged he had been in a fight, appeared confused, and asked officers where he was. He received medical treatment for his injuries before being taken to the Craighead County Detention Center.

At the same time that officers were with Laport, the victim arrived at the Jonesboro Police Department (JPD) in the SUV and reported that he was involved in the Griffin Street fight during which he had been stabbed. A puncture wound was found on the side of the victim’s neck, and he was taken to a hospital for further treatment. Detectives later interviewed the victim at the hospital.

The victim said that he was working as a Lyft driver and providing transportation to Laport on Griffin Street, who appeared to be drunk. He explained that he had driven Laport to several locations before returning him home.

After arriving at the home, the victim said Laport suddenly attacked him and stabbed him in the neck with an unknown object. Following the assault, the victim got out of the vehicle and ordered Laport to get out. Instead, Laport got out of the back of the vehicle, ran to and got in the driver’s side seat, and attempted to steal the victim’s vehicle. The victim re-entered the vehicle, turned off the engine, and struck Laport multiple times before pulling him out and driving directly to JPD to report the incident.

Detectives said they found multiple items of evidence at the Griffin Street scene and processed the victim’s vehicle, finding blood and additional items consistent with the victim’s account of the incident. City camera footage also helped them locate the victim’s vehicle at several of the locations where he reported transporting Laport before taking him home.

In determining the $250,000 bond for Laport, Boling noted that he did not sign the no-contact order issued for him and the victim, and that he had few contacts in Jonesboro; rather, they were mainly from Boston, MA. He added that he has had multiple failure to appear charges out of New England for assault and kidnapping charges, and he was previously convicted on a battery charge three years ago.

Laport’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 21. If convicted on both felony counts, he faces up to 40 years in prison and fines of up to $25,000.

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