Town and Country Newspaper

Local News Article

Perkiomenville Man Stabs Neighbor With Saw

Written by Kelly Chandler, Staff Writer
2012-08-02

A brief argument turned physical Friday as Lower Frederick Police said a 50-year-old Perkiomenville man stabbed his neighbor with a saw in “a frenzy” outside their apartment building.

According to police, George H. Haines, of the 1400 block of Gravel Pike in Perkiomenville was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and related offenses in Gilbertsville District Court after he reportedly stabbed his neighbor with a 10-inch folding saw around 9:30 p.m.

Authorities said the male victim was involved in a brief verbal altercation with Haines the week before when Haines allegedly threatened to physically harm him. After that argument, the neighbor told police Haines had been acting “very strangely.”

On Friday, police said the man went to take his trash out when Haines appeared out of nowhere, yelling expletives at him and produced a saw. According to the criminal complaint, Haines flipped open the saw like a switchblade and slashed and stabbed at the man in “a frenzy.”

Police said the man ran inside his apartment, believing Haines was trying to kill him, and Haines followed, challenging him at his front door. The man’s girlfriend called police and applied pressure to his wounds until emergency personnel arrived at the scene.

Authorities said the man sustained a three-inch laceration to an upper arm and multiple smaller lacerations consistent with defensive wounds. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment. He has since been released.

The victim and his girlfriend said that prior to police arrival, Haines was pacing back and forth outside their apartment, trying to look in the window and further intimidate them.

When questioned and detained by police upon their arrival at the scene, Haines said he was cutting down some bushes and “accidentally cut his neighbor.”

Police said Haines appeared highly intoxicated and was walking unsteadily.

Haines was arraigned by District Justice Catherine Rebar of Collegeville. Bail was set at $30,000. He was remanded to Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing date was undetermined as of press time.

Return to Previous Page