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A Fitchburg resident allegedly stabbed a bouncer working at Frida Mexican Grill early Sunday morning, sending the employee to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Madison police received a call at about 2:14 a.m. Sunday regarding an incident outside the Mexican restaurant at 117 State Street.

"There was a disturbance outside of Frida, and the incident apparently began when the suspect and a buddy of his got kicked out of the bar," MPD Sgt. Eric Tripke said. "They left but were hanging out outside of the bar."

As another person walked by and got into an argument with the suspect, the Frida bouncers intervened and tried to separate them, Tripke said.

According to Tripke, Kevin Boyce of Fitchburg pulled out a sharp object — later determined to be a knife about an inch long — and slashed it at the bouncer, cutting his lower abdomen.

"It was so minor the bouncer hadn't even realized he had been cut," Tripke said. "He held on to the guy until the cops got there."

Boyce is being charged with carrying a concealed weapon and reckless endangerment. He is currently in custody at Dane County Jail and will most likely stay until today, Tripke said.

According to Tripke, Boyce may be charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety, which includes a penalty for someone who acts with utter disregard for human life causing injury, and a class G felony.

The penalty for a class G felony conviction is a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years or both. 

Madison Assistant District Attorney Verveer, who is also the alder for District 4, where the incident took place, said it is a “very serious charge” that falls just below attempted homicide.

Verveer said Frida is not a “problematic establishment.”

“This is an absolute rarity for stabbings to occur in downtown Madison,” Verveer said. “Certainly on State Street, it is thankfully extremely rare.”

Even though Frida becomes a night club on weekends — converting from a traditional restaurant — Verveer said his experience with it has been “largely positive.” 

“If you asked me the name of campus area bars that have the most problems, Frida would not be in my top five list or even top ten,” he said.

Verveer said Boyce will likely make his initial court appearance today or Tuesday.