Attempted eviction leads to stabbing in State College, police say
A State College man was jailed after borough police accused him Monday of stabbing a man in the face multiple times.
Officers were dispatched about 4 p.m. Monday to Joyce Drive for an altercation between James Willis, 42, and a man who attempted to evict Willis, police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
The man began to record Willis with his cellphone “due to (his) aggressive behavior,” but Willis knocked the phone to the ground, police wrote.
The disagreement escalated, and the man told police he was stabbed by Willis. Neither the man nor several witnesses identified what weapon Willis allegedly used, police wrote.
The man was treated at Mount Nittany Medical Center for multiple lacerations on his neck and jaw. The wounds are not life-threatening, but did require stitches, police wrote.
A defense lawyer for Willis was not listed on a court document.
Willis was charged with one felony count of aggravated assault, one misdemeanor count of simple assault and one summary count of harassment.
He was arraigned Tuesday by District Judge Don Hahn, who set bail at 10% of $25,000. Willis did not post bail and is detained at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15.
The State College Police Department is urging anyone who may have information about the stabbing to call 234-7150, by email or submit an anonymous tip through the department’s website.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 3:50 PM.