A Portland man wanted by police in a stabbing in March has been arrested by federal agents along the Mexican border.

Abdi Awad, 25, was arrested Monday in Sierra Blanca, a Texas town about 80 miles from Juarez, Mexico. Awad is being held on a warrant based on a Cumberland County grand jury indictment handed up Aug. 4.

The warrant, seeking his arrest on a charge of elevated aggravated assault, stems from a March 6 stabbing at a nightclub at 1192 Forest Ave.

The victim, a security person who was working at a private party, had sought to quell a disturbance and was escorting someone outside when he was hit from behind by an object, police said. He was knocked to the ground, then stabbed twice.

The attacker fled, police said.

The victim, a man in his 30s, was taken to Maine Medical Center, then treated and released.

In May, Awad was charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly threw a handgun as he was being chased by police in Rumford, causing the gun to discharge.

Police had few details Monday about whether he faces more charges in Texas, or whether an identity check – which could have been done if he tried to cross the border – turned up the warrant.

 

Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at: dhench@pressherald.com