Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A Pierceton man is in intensive care today after being stabbed early this morning during a fight at a trailer in Regency Estates, 8280 U.S. 30E, Pierceton.
Travis McCleary, 19, one of the residents of the trailer, was stabbed several times in his stomach. He was admitted to KCH for surgery and is currently in the intensive care unit in stable condition.
David A. Hein, a friend of McCleary, 20, CR 450E, Pierceton, also was stabbed several times, police reports inedicate. He received nine stitches at Kosciusko Community Hospital and was released.
Kosciusko County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to KCH to investigate the reported stabbings.
A witness of the incident, Nora Hoover, told police she was at the trailer at 12:45 a.m. when another resident of the trailer, Joseph Hough, fought outside with a man and then dragged him into the trailer. Hoover said the man, later identified by his driver's license as Aaron Arnett, 20, moved toward a door when Hein grabbed him. Arnett then allegedly grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Hein. When McCleary went after Arnett, Arnett allegedly stabbed him twice in the stomach and ran out of the trailer.
Arnett, a rural Mentone resident, fled the scene.
Hough told police that three men came to the trailer and allegedly wanted to buy drugs. When Hough told them he did not sell drugs, one of the men, later identified as Arnett, reportedly started an argument and hit Hough. Hough then hit the man, knocked him down and dragged him into the trailer.
Hough said he then went to a neighbors' trailer to use a telephone. When he heard a commotion from his trailer, he ran back and found Hein, whom he took to KCH. Hough gave police the driver's license he had taken from Arnett.
Hein and McCleary both told police that Arnett stabbed Hein first as Arnett was trying to leave. McCleary reportedly tried to stop Arnett when Arnett stabbed him in the stomach.
A nurse at KCH reported finding a plastic bag in a pocket of the jeans McCleary was wearing when he was stabbed. The police reported the bag contained a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
Police are continuing the investigation.
