Man jailed in alleged knife attack
Toolbox
By Brent Curtis STAFF WRITER - Published: July 2, 2009
A Mount Holly man was ordered jailed Wednesday without bail a day after he allegedly used a knife and his fists in a vicious assault on a woman.
David M. Johnson, 35, pleaded innocent in Rutland District Court on Wednesday to three felonies and a misdemeanor count all related to an alleged assault that took place at a Mount Holly home where Johnson was working on Tuesday.
The charges against Johnson include felony counts of first-degree aggravated domestic assault with a weapon, second-degree aggravated domestic assault with injury and obstruction of justice. Johnson also faces a misdemeanor charge of simple assault.
Johnson, who appeared in court with a bandage around his arm, was ordered held without bail due to a violation of his probation complaint brought on by the new charges against him.
Police were called to the home of the woman that Johnson was working for at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to court records. They found the homeowner injured with swelling and bruises on her face and cuts on her hands, according to State Police Detective Sgt. Albert Abdelnour. Johnson had reportedly fled into the woods before police arrived — however he was later found hiding in the nearby home of 27-year-old Jose L. Ortiz Jr. whom police later charged with a felony count of impeding a public officer because of misinformation he gave about Johnson's whereabouts.
Abdelnour said the woman and her roommate told police that Johnson arrived at the home drunk. As he worked on installing new sheetrock and insulation in the home, the women said he became increasingly abusive, calling the women names and arguing with them.
When the homeowner finally insisted that he leave, Johnson allegedly punched her, touching off a melee that the women said took place throughout the house.
During the incident, Johnson allegedly beat the homeowner with his fists before grabbing a red-handled steak knife and declaring that he was going to kill her, Abdelnour wrote.
The woman told police she tried to shield her head with her hands, resulting in stab wounds to her left hand.
When Johnson dropped the knife, the woman said she picked up the blade and used it to keep Johnson away — cutting both his arms.
The woman told police that she tried to force Johnson out the door by swinging the knife. But before he reached the door, Johnson "calmed down," tried to give her a hug and told her he didn't mean to try to kill her and that everything would be all right, the woman told police.
He then fled the house.
The homeowner was later treated for her wounds at Rutland Regional Medical Center. The roommate, who said she was also punched and knocked down during the melee, went to the hospital, but did not see a doctor, Abdelnour wrote.
Johnson was also taken to the hospital for treatment. While there, Abdelnour said he was handcuffed to a bed after lunging at police and a mask was put over his mouth after he allegedly tried to spit on officers in the room.
He was also charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly trying to intimidate a trooper who he threatened not only to kill but to track down his family and make him beg for the life of his wife and child.
If convicted of all charges, Johnson faces up to 26 years in jail.
brent.curtis@rutlandherald.com
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