A Jefferson County man was arrested after police said he stabbed another man in the neck during a roadside argument on Sunday in Philipsburg.
Noah R.G. Fremer, 21, is facing charges including attempted homicide after the stabbing on the 1500 block of Presqueisle Street.
An emergency room physician told state troopers that the man’s stab wound was 3 mm, or about a one-tenth of an inch, from killing him, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by state police at Rockview.
Four witnesses, three of them juveniles, told police that they, the alleged victim and Fremer had been at Black Moshannon State Park and were on their way home in two vehicles at around 8 a.m. The victim pulled over on Presqueisle Street because of car trouble, and Fremer followed, police wrote.
Fremer then began arguing with the man about the age difference between him and one of the witnesses, according to the affidavit. The two men pushed each other and, after Fremer was pushed to the ground, he pulled out a knife and made a comment to the effect of “you’re gonna be dead,” witnesses told police.
When the man and the others got back in the car, Fremer stabbed a tire with the knife, police wrote. The man got out of the car and an altercation ensued, during which witnesses said Fremer stabbed the man in the neck.
Fremer left the scene and was later stopped by state troopers in Clearfield County.
In an interview at the Rockview barracks, Fremer said he was “roughed up” by the man after confronting him and that he pulled out the knife to protect himself, not to kill him. He said he didn’t remember the stabbing but saw a mark on the man’s neck and “it might have been deep,” police wrote.
The man was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center, then flown by helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where he received three stitches, according to the affidavit.
In addition to attempted homicide, Fremer is charged with a felony count of aggravated assault, misdemeanor counts of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person and a summary offense of criminal mischief-damage to property.
Fremer was arraigned on Sunday night by District Judge Casey McClain, who denied bail. He is detained at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
