Police Release Additional Details on Brookville Stabbing

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published January 1, 2015 1:00 pm
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BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — Police released additional information on the stabbing that occurred around 3:30 p.m. on December 27, 2014, in Brookville, Jefferson County.

According to Brookville Police Department, following an investigation, 41-year-old Robert Alan Smith, of Brookville, was charged with the following offenses:

– Criminal Attempt — Criminal Homicide, Felony 1
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 3
– Aggravated Assault, Felony 1
– Aggravated Assault. Felony 2
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
– Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting, Misdemeanor 3

The details of the investigation that led to Smith’s arrest are as follows:

Stabbing Victim Arrives at Brookville Police Department

According to a criminal complaint, on December 27, 2014, at approximately 4:43 p.m., Officer Stormer was met at the Brookville Police Department by a known man and a known woman.

The complaint states the known woman yells, “He needs help!” The known man had blood on the front of his neck. He stated that he was stabbed in the neck.

The stabbing victim stated that he and the known woman were driving around looking for houses open for rent when he traveled around the area of Clark Street.

Stabbing Victim Identifies Assailant’s Vehicle

The stabbing victim stated that he turned off of Richards Street onto Washington Avenue when a silver van bearing Pennsylvania registration number xxxxxxx approached from the rear and pulled in front of his vehicle. He reported the silver van then stopped in front of him near the intersection of Washington Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, and a white male with balding hair exited the silver van and approached him.

The known man continued, stating that he also exited his vehicle and the two had a verbal confrontation. The white male returned to his van after the confrontation and quickly returned to the known man with a knife in his hand. The known man stated he first thought the white male had retrieved a hand gun and then saw that it was a knife shaped like a hand gun. The known man was then shoved and stabbed in the neck by the white male.

Officer Stormer instructed the stabbing victim to go directly to the Brookville Hospital for medical attention.

Police Identify Vehicle’s Owner, Interview Witnesses

Officer Stormer ran a registration check on xxxxxxx and its owner came back to Robert Alan Smith of Clark Street, Brookville.

Officer Stormer responded to the crime scene and identified two witnesses who said they saw a silver van cut in front of a blue van and two white males approached each other. The witnesses stated the man in the silver van returned to his van and emerged with a knife. The witnesses stated that the man from the silver van slashed the man from the blue van in the neck, and then both actors drove away from the scene.

Officer Miller of Brookville Police Department was dispatched to the area of Smith’s residence to conduct surveillance, and he confirmed the registration of the silver van. Officer Miller then saw a white male who matched the physical description and a female leave the residence and leave in the silver van. The officer conducted a felony traffic stop on the silver van, and both Smith and a female passenger were detained.

Police Interview Smith, Locate Weapon

Officer Stormer advised Smith of his Miranda Warnings at the scene, which he stated he understood.

Officer Stormer asked Smith what happened earlier in the day, and Smith allegedly stated he saw the blue van driving by his residence several times and wanted to find out why the van kept driving by his house, so he followed it up Richards Street and onto Washington Avenue. Smith continued, stating that he then pulled in front of the van and approached the man from the blue van. Smith allegedly told Officer Stormer that the man from the blue van pushed him, and he pushed him back, and nothing else happened after that. A short time later, Smith allegedly said he did have a knife and that he never used it during the confrontation and that the knife was at his residence on Clark Street.

Officers Stormer and Gallagher then took Smith to his Clark Street residence. Smith was asked permission to enter the residence and retrieve the knife, and Smith agreed. Both officers, along with Smith, then entered the home, and Smith allegedly informed Officer Gallagher that the knife in question was underneath a bicycle seat on a shelf in the living room. Officer Gallagher then retrieved the knife which was in the shape of a hand gun.

Female Passenger of Silver Van Interviewed

Officers Humes and Bartley interviewed the female passenger of the silver van. Brookville Police Chief Brown was also present during the interview. The known woman said that a blue van had been driving by the residence, and Smith decided to follow it to see why.

The known woman indicated Smith retrieved a knife from the glove box and approached the man in the blue van. The known woman said she did not see Smith stab or slash the man in the blue van.

Update on Stabbing Victim’s Condition

Officer Stormer received information that the stabbing victim was treated at the Brookville Hospital and was given four stitches for his injury.

Smith Charged, Awaits Preliminary Hearing

Based on the information from the interviews and from the injury to a vital area of a human body, Officer Stormer believes that Smith did attempt to cause serious bodily injury and death with a deadly weapon.

Smith was charged with the aforementioned seven offenses, which include three felonies.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak.

Smith remains in the Jefferson County Jail on $300,000.00 monetary bail.

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