West Des Moines Man Charged in Early-Morning Stabbing

A West Des Moines man was charged in the early morning stabbing following an altercation in a Clive bar, according to a news release from the Clive Police Department.

Zachary DeAngelo Morris, 28, of West Des Moines was charged with willful injury, a Class D felony, and public intoxication, a simple misdemeanor. Morris remains in custody at the Polk County Jail on $5,300 cash bond.

West Des Moines police apprehended the suspect after he fled on foot after he alelgedly stabbed Chyna Rae Simms, 19, of Des Moines in the hand. Her injuries were not life-threatening, but she was hospitalized at an undisclosed location, according to the news release.

Authorities said Morris and the victim were involved in a verbal dispute inside Mickey’s Irish Pub, 1800 NW 8th St., Clive, and he reportedly struck Simms in the face. According to witness accounts, Morris then dropped his cell phone and the victim pick it up and damaged it, the news release said.

Morris then reportedly pulled out a knife and chased the victim through the parking lot and stabbed her. Police were dispatched to the parking lot about 2:08 a.m. and discovered that the victim had been stabbed.

Morris reportedly fled on foot, but was apprehended at 2:35 a.m. in the 1600 block of NW 91st St., Clive, by West Des Moines police officers, who responded to a broadcast of the suspect’s flight on foot toward the West Des Moines-Clive border, the release said.

Morris had sustained a hand injury prior to his apprehension. He was treated for his injuries and released into the custody of Clive police officers, who transported him to the jail, according to the release.