The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

The man who allegedly stabbed former Fergus Falls mayoral candidate Ivan “Skip” Mallas early Sunday morning was charged on Tuesday with second degree attempted murder.

Peterson

Timothy Eugene Peterson, 42, of Fergus Falls, was also charged with one count of second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of second degree assault with a dangerous weapon that caused substantial bodily harm. The maximum sentence for the attempted murder charge is 40 years in prison, and the combined maximum sentences for the other two charges are 17 years in prison and/or $34,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, Fergus Falls police officers responded to Mallas’ home on the 700 block of Springen Avenue at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, after they were called about a stabbing there. Upon arrival, they allegedly found Mallas with visible wounds to his right cheek and both hands (a wound on his left foot would later be discovered after he went to the hospital, where he was treated and released).

The complaint stated that Mallas said he had been stabbed by Peterson, and the officers followed a trail of blood to Peterson’s home, three doors down. Inside, they allegedly found Peterson with his clothes stained in blood, as well as a blood-stained Bowie knife on the couch. Officers arrested Peterson, who claimed that he and Mallas were “just wrestling.”

The police interviewed Mallas twice, once on Sunday and once on Monday. Mallas allegedly painted a chilling picture of Peterson at the time of the stabbing, indicating that his attacker was delusional and had possibly been drinking.

Per Mallas’ interviews, the complaint stated that Mallas had been approached by Peterson while working in his garage. Peterson allegedly began chanting and called himself a “soul collector” and a “medicine man” while trying first to cut off some of Mallas’ toes. Mallas said that Peterson then tried to slit his throat, scalp him and stab him in the chest, all the while telling Mallas that he needed to kill him and “collect his soul.”

During the struggle, the complaint stated, Mallas allegedly had to grab the knife several times to keep it from mortally wounding him. These actions caused deep cuts to both hands, and his attempt to keep Peterson from scalping him caused him to wound his cheek.

The complaint reported that Mallas said that Peterson eventually stopped his assault and appeared to consider coming after him again before finally leaving. After Peterson left, Mallas allegedly fled to a neighbor’s house for safety and help.

According to the complaint, the neighbor was interviewed and said that she could hear shouts coming from Mallas’ home before he came to her home and told her that he had been attacked by Peterson.

An officer who searched Mallas’ home allegedly found blood in several areas of the house and garage.

Peterson is being held on $500,000 cash or bond without conditions, or $300,000 bond or $100,000 cash with conditions.