Two men who were allegedly trying to pick fights in Council Bluffs Monday evening, were stabbed by a man who they allegedly assaulted. Council Bluffs Police say just before 7-p.m. Monday, Council Bluffs police and fire personnel were dispatched to the area of North 42nd Street and River’s Edge Parkway for a stabbing. 19-year old Ronald Buchanan of Council Bluffs and 27-year old Tevin Vanderpool, of Omaha, were both on the ground, bleeding from their abdomens. Medics transported both to a trauma center in Omaha for treatment; each were found to have received one puncture wound. Buchanan was in stable condition and Vanderpool was in critical condition at last report.

Officers were able to quickly determine that their alleged target, 27-year old Andrew Poeckes, of Council Bluffs, who was still at the scene, had stabbed both Buchanan and Vanderpool. Poeckes, who was treated at a Council Bluffs hospital for facial injuries, was released after being interviewed by detectives. Poeckes told detectives after he left work in downtown Omaha, he was walking to his Council Bluffs home, crossing the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge. While on the bridge, Poeckes noticed Buchanan and Vanderpool on the bridge as well. He said the two men were being loud and aggressive, and attempting to start fights with other people on the bridge.

As Poeckes walked past them, Buchanan and Vanderpool reportedly made derogatory comments directed at him. Poeckes stated that he did not respond to the comments and continued to walk eastward, across the bridge. Buchanan and Vanderpool followed Poeckes and as he neared the bottom of the bridge on the Iowa side, Buchanan and Vanderpool began to assault Poeckes, repeatedly punching him in the face and pulling on his clothing.

While he was being attacked, Poeckes was able to pull out a small folding pocket knife that he was carrying in his pocket and stabbed both Buchanan and Vanderpool one time each in their abdomens. Several witnesses in the area gave statements that indicated that they saw Buchanan and Vanderpool assaulting Poeckes, with Poeckes eventually swinging back at them to protect himself. The witnesses did not realize that Poeckes had a knife in his possession until after both Buchanan and Vanderpool were laying on the ground, bleeding from their mid‐sections.

The case remains under investigation, but preliminary indications are that Poeckes was acting in self‐defense when he used his pocket knife to fend off Buchanan and Vanderpool. The County Attorney’s Office has been consulted and at this time authorities anticipate requesting arrest warrants for Buchanan and Vanderpool, charging each of them with assault. Detectives are interested in speaking with any other citizens who were on, or near, the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge Monday evening, who may have witnessed anything relevant to this case. Please call  712‐328‐4728 if you have any information to share.