A verbal altercation almost turned deadly in Andalusia Saturday when a Hispanic man allegedly stabbed his estranged brother-in-law five times.

Sgt. Jody Scott, a criminal investigator with the Andalusia Police Department, said officers were dispatched to Princeton Street at 11:50 p.m. to find the 35-year-old Hispanic victim.

“He’d had his throat cut, a wound to his left arm, two stab wounds to upper torso and one cut that nearly amputated his left foot,” Scott said. “Since his injuries were life-threatening, he was immediately transported to Andalusia Regional Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.”

Scott said Dagoberto Gonzales, 26, was then arrested and charged with attempted murder.

He said the altercation started when the two men began arguing over the recent marital separation between the victim and Gonzales’ sister. He said neither is a U.S. citizen, and alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident.

“At last report, the victim is in critical, but stable condition,” Scott said. “He’s very lucky to be alive. It just goes to show that alcohol has the ability to escalate a situation sometimes to a detrimental result.”

Gonzales is currently being held in the Covington County Jail under a $250,000 bond.