Suspect arrested in West Salem, Tennessee incident

WEST SALEM, Wis. (WEAU) – A suspect has been identified in an incident in West Salem, Wisconsin.

According to an update from West Salem Police, West Salem Police identified 59-year-old Paul Stokes as the suspect in the incident that occurred on October 21, 2024 at 341 Jefferson Street East.

According to initial information from West Salem Police about the incident, on October 21, 2024, at approximately 7:04 p.m., West Salem Police responded to 341 Jefferson Street East to assist a man whose throat had been slit by another man who then fled the scene in a semi-truck.

According to updated information from West Salem Police, the investigation revealed that Stokes missed a cargo delivery in Geona, Wisconsin and fled the state in his tractor-trailer and trailer.

On October 22, 2024, a warrant was issued for Stokes' arrest on suspicion of second-degree recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon and battery with substantial use of a dangerous weapon.

According to West Salem police, around 2:00 p.m. that day, West Salem police found Stokes southbound on US Highway 45 near Hickory, Kentucky. At 3:11 p.m., authorities found Stokes' tractor-trailer and trailer southbound on State Highway 22 near Dresden, Tennessee, where Stokes was taken into custody.

Stokes is awaiting extradition at the Weakley County Detention Center.

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