Johnstown police are providing new details on what led to an alleged stabbing outside the Haynes Street Sheetz early Saturday morning.
Investigators say 37-year-old Jason Middleton is accused of stabbing another man in the neck during a dispute in the parking lot of the convenience store.
Police say the victim was later hospitalized, with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the criminal affidavit, authorities learned that the victim and a female witness had arranged to meet Middleton at the Sheetz location to reportedly “give him a scratch-off ticket.”
Police say store surveillance footage shows that the meet-up quickly escalated to Middleton fighting with both the victim and the woman.
As the couple attempted to flee in their vehicle, investigators say Middleton reportedly “ripped open” the passenger door and stabbed the victim in the neck with a saw blade, causing him to fall out of the car.
Police say the woman then crashed the vehicle near the Johnstown YMCA, exited the car and ran into the Sheetz store to track down an on-duty Conemaugh Township officer whom she had witnessed going inside.
Investigators say after allegedly stabbing the victim, Middleton reportedly fled along Franklin Street and was found hiding behind the YMCA building.
While being taken into custody, police say Middleton allegedly began ‘ranting’ about the victim, accusing him of ‘pimping out’ the woman and repeatedly calling the victim a racial slur.
“What would you have done,” he allegedly asked officers.
Police note that officers later found a hoodie and blade in a nearby dumpster, both matching what investigators saw in the video of the alleged stabbing.
Authorities add that while being processed at the county jail, Middleton continued to refer to the victim using racial slurs and even ‘lifted his shirt’ to reveal a swastika tattoo.
According to online court records, Middleton is now jailed on a variety of charges headlined by felony aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation.
He is being held at the Cambria County Prison, with bail set at $75,000.