MILFORD - A fight between two area teen-age girls has left one with serious stab wounds while the other will face criminal charges in Kosciukso County Juvenile Court.
Milford police responded to a call of a fight at 602 W. Section St. around 3 p.m. Monday.
Marshal Dave Hobbs said two 17-year-old females were involved in the fight, but he refused to release any names.
When the suspect arrived home from school, several juveniles told her that the victim had stopped by earlier, police said. The suspect allegedly told police she went into her apartment, called her friend and put the box knife into her pocket because she expected a problem and wanted to protect herself.
When the other party returned a short time later, there was a confrontation that witnesses reported to police was "heckled on" by other juveniles at the scene.
"The one 17-year-old stated that she showed the victim this blade and advised her that if she got out of the car and tried to do any physical harm to her she was going to cut her with it," said Hobbs.
The victim was treated at Goshen General Hospital for several cuts allegedly received from the suspect's utility knife and later released. The injuries required stitches and staples, the marshal said.
Charges have not yet been filed against the suspect, according to Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe.
The decision on what charges will be filed against the Milford teen will fall to Chief Deputy Prosecutor Dan Nelson and Brian Rensberger, juvenile probation officer. According to Kolbe, charges could range from battery with a deadly weapon to battery causing bodily injury, or simply battery.
"We had a detention hearing yesterday regarding the juvenile incident," said Kolbe. "It was a pretty extreme incident ... The girl has been placed out of the region. We needed to quiet the situation down."
Authorities report there are conflicting stories from both sides as to who started the physical confrontation.
The incident remains under investigation by the Milford Police Department.