PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — Police say a Punxsutawney man is behind bars for reportedly stabbing a man with a screwdriver in a Punxsutawney Borough apartment building.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 34-year-old Bradley James Heitzenrater, of Punxsutawney, in District Judge Jacqueline Mizerock’s office on Monday, May 6.
According to a criminal complaint, Punxsutawney Borough Police received a report around 10:19 p.m. on Friday, May 3, of a male who was stabbed at an apartment building in the 200 block of North Jefferson Street, in Punxsutawney Borough, Jefferson County.
It was also reported that the suspect was wearing a plaid shirt and heading toward Shop’n Save. Officers contacted this individual moments later on Mill Alley, near Torrence Street, according to the complaint.
The suspect was instructed to turn around with his hands in the air and was placed in handcuffs. He was identified as Bradley Heitzenrater, the complaint indicates.
Heitzenrater was read his Miranda Rights, and he chose not to speak with the officers. He was then escorted to the patrol car. It was noted in the complaint that Heitzenrater could not walk straight or steady on his own and his speech was slurred. His eyes were also bloodshot. While in the patrol car, Heitzenrater made various inaudible statements. An officer was able to hear him say, “Please sit down and enjoy your (expletive),” referencing something he said to the victim, according to the complaint.
Heitzenrater also reported to police that he smoked marijuana around 7:00 p.m. in addition to taking suboxone. He said that he wanted to kill the victim, but he “would never actually kill anyone,” the complaint notes.
According to the complaint, officers went back to the apartment building to speak with the victim and witnesses.
Two known females reported that Heitzenrater came outside and asked, “How do you kill a person?” He told them he was fighting with a known male and stabbed him three times in the neck in an apartment, the complaint states.
The two women asked Heitzenrater what weapon he used in the incident, and he reportedly stated it was a screwdriver. He also informed them that the victim went back to his apartment. Both women went to check on the victim, but he did not open the door. They were disturbed by Heltzenrater’s behavior and the things he said, so they called the police, the complaint states.
Jefferson County EMS attended to the victim, who had two stab wounds—one to his right shoulder and one on his chest, the complaint indicates.
The victim told police that Heitzenrater was threatening to kill him while swinging the screwdriver, the complaint continues.
Officers went to the apartment where the stabbing occurred and gathered the screwdriver as evidence. The tenant of the apartment told police that Heitzenrater and the victim were arguing when Heitzenrater grabbed a screwdriver that was nearby and started to stab the victim. The tenant said he stepped in between them and broke it up, the complaint notes.
Heitzenrater was arraigned at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, on the following charges in front of Judge Mizerock:
– Aggravated Assault — Attempts to cause SBI or causes injury with, Felony 1
– Aggravated Assault — Attempts to cause or causes BI with deadly weapon, Felony 2
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)
– Terroristic Threats W/ Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1
– Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting, Misdemeanor 3
– Public Drunkenness And Similar Misconduct, Summary
Unable to post $20,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is set for Thursday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m. with Judge Mizerock presiding.