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WATERVILLE

Stabbing leads to surgery, arrest

By Amy Calder acalder@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

WATERVILLE -- One man is hospitalized with a stab wound and another man is in jail after a fight that occurred late Thursday on Swan Street in the city's South End.

Devin Linnell, 18, of 5 Autumn St., No. 2, was arrested and charged with elevated aggravated assault, disorderly conduct fighting and refusal to submit to arrest or detention.

He was arraigned Friday in Waterville District Court on the assault and refusal to submit charges and his bail was increased from $5,000 to $10,000, according to Deputy police Chief Charles Rumsey.

Police were called to Swan Street, located between Gray and Gold streets, around 10 p.m. Thursday, Rumsey said.

When officers arrived, they found three people fighting, and several people in the area fled when they saw police, he said.

Police found Justin Thomas, 22, of Waterville, with a cut to his abdomen; he was taken to Thayer Unit, MaineGeneral Medical Center, and shortly thereafter, transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland, Rumsey said.

Thomas underwent surgery Friday and was listed in fair condition by early evening, he said.

Linnell was taken to Inland Hospital Thursday night, suffering from a broken foot, and had to have 13 stitches in his hand, Rumsey said.

He then was taken to Kennebec County Jail in Augusta.

Rumsey said Linnell said he did not know what he used to strike Thomas.

"He told us he thought it was a piece of debris that was in the area," Rumsey said.

He said the altercation Thursday started as a verbal argument between Linnell and some of his friends and Thomas.

"The argument escalated from a verbal argument to a fight and that's when the victim was stabbed," Rumsey said.

Linnell is scheduled to appear in Kennebec County Superior Court April 27.