CLINTON — UPDATED - 7/17/2010, 2:25 p.m.: More details have surfaced today that shed light on what led Clinton County prosecutors to file an attempted murder charge against a Camanche man accused of using a knife to hold his wife hostage for several hours last week.

Arthur Walker, 52, 4102 Ninth St., Camanche, originally was charged with first-degree kidnapping, aggravated domestic assault and willful injury shortly after the July 7 incident at his residence.

Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf this morning provided trial information that shows Walker today is formally charged with attempted murder and second-degree sexual abuse along with the first-degree kidnapping charge.

According to court documents obtained by the Clinton Herald today, the alleged hostage situation actually began a few hours before police were called by a witness at 3:52 p.m. July 7.

A court affidavit filed by Camanche police states the victim — who had allegedly sustained severe lacerations to her head, throat and fingers — told police that her husband had been drinking at one of the bars in Camanche earlier that day, was cut off from having more alcohol there, went home and began punching her.

She stated that her husband grabbed a knife and held it against her neck. She said that for the next two hours, he held the knife to her neck while she was sexually abused by him.

At this point, shortly before 4 p.m., the victim was able to escape and ran to a neighbor’s house. Police state that Walker went into the neighbor’s home and physically removed the victim from the home while armed with the knife and dragged her back into the couple’s residence.

Police arrived at the home while she was still inside. The victim also said the sexual abuse again began.

The victim was released at 4:05 p.m. She told police, according to court documents, that Walker’s brother had called shortly before she was released, that her husband had told him that he had killed his wife and then asked her if she had lost consciousness.

He then allegedly threw the phone and told her to leave. The victim ran outside, was met by officers and transported to Mercy North Hospital in Clinton for treatment of injuries.

A long-standoff ensued and police say Walker indicated he had turned the gas on in his house, threatening to strike a match if officers approached.

At 6:45 p.m. he left the house and threatened to stab himself with a knife. An initial report states a Taser was then deployed and Walker was taken into custody.

Assisting the Camanche police were the Clinton Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Camanche Fire Department and members of the Gateway Area HEAT Team.

Walker is being held without bond in the Clinton County Jail. An arraignment date on the charges has not yet been set. The kidnapping charge is a Class A felony, which carries a life sentence upon conviction. Second-degree sexual abuse and attempted murder are both Class B felonies that each carry a possible 25-year prison sentence.

____

Prosecutors today have filed enhanced charges, including attempted murder, against a Camanche man accused of using a knife to hold his wife hostage for several hours last week.

Arthur Walker, 52, 4102 Ninth St., Camanche, originally was charged with first-degree kidnapping, aggravated domestic assault and willful injury shortly after the July 7 incident at his residence.

Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf this morning provided trial information that shows Walker today is formally charged with attempted murder and second-degree sexual abuse along with the first-degree kidnapping charge.

Walker is being held in the Clinton County Jail.

According to the Camanche Police Department, officers were dispatched at 3:52 p.m. July 7 to 4102 Ninth St. for a domestic situation involving a knife. Walker allegedly held his wife, Victoria Walker, 55, against her will.

According to police, she was released from the residence shortly after officers arrived and was taken by Camanche ambulance to Mercy Medical Center North for treatment of injuries.

As more officers arrived at the scene, Walker barricaded himself inside the residence before eventually exiting the residence while armed with a knife, according to police. Officers talked with Walker for hours before negotiations stalled. A Taser was then deployed and Walker was taken into custody.

Assisting the Camanche police were the Clinton Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Camanche Fire Department and members of the Gateway Area HEAT Team.