Dawson man charged with attempted homicide in stabbing
A Dawson man was arrested and released on bail after he allegedly stabbed his girlfriend in the chest following an argument, and then attempted suicide Thursday night.
Dustin Thomas Newell, 25, of 104 Upper Hulltown Road is charged with criminal attempt to commit homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of unlawful restraint, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
The woman, 24-year-old Noell Brown, was stabbed on the left side of her chest at about 9:20 p.m. outside their Lower Tyrone Township home. She was treated on the scene, and then flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.
“She should be OK,” said State Police Trooper Adam Janosko, adding she is expected to be released from the hospital after another night in care. “She should be doing good.” The couple has two young daughters together, he said.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case, Newell told police he and his daughter went across the street to the convenience store to cash in a lottery ticket, and he left his phone at home. When they came back, Brown confronted him about text messages she found on his phone and questioned him about a relationship she believes he was having with another woman. She started to gather some belongings to leave with their daughter, and Newell followed.
“Newell further explained that he remembers holding a knife in his hand and possibly hitting Brown with it,” Janosko wrote in the affidavit. “He explained that he could not remember much after following Brown out of her residence and into the street, and he was not sure if he stabbed Brown or not.”
He said Newell stabbed himself in the neck twice and cut his wrist in a suicide attempt, but was not badly injured. He was taken to Highlands Hospital in Connellsville for treatment and released to police.
Two witnesses, who were not named in court paperwork, reported they saw the stabbing and rushed to Brown’s aid. Janosko identified the witnesses as a couple who live next door, Newell’s brother and his girlfriend.
According to court paperwork, the woman heard someone screaming outside, and started walking toward the door before someone began pounding on it. She opened the door and one of Brown’s children ran inside. She reportedly saw Brown in the street with Newell on top of her and their other daughter. Brown reportedly screamed that Newell stabbed her. Newell’s brother told police he rushed toward the man and pulled him off of Brown. The woman, Brown and her daughter ran toward their home.
“Brown then made it just inside the front door of witness 1’s residence before collapsing,” Janosko wrote in the affidavit.
She applied pressure to Brown’s wound until emergency medical services arrived.
Janosko said Newell was reportedly laying on top of his daughter while stabbing his girlfriend.
“He’s actually never been arrested before. This is his first arrest,” he said.
Newell was arraigned at 7:45 a.m. Friday by Magisterial District Judge Jennifer Jeffries. She set bail at $75,000. He was released from Fayette County Prison Friday morning after bond was posted on his behalf. His preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 17 before Jeffries. Court documents do not indicate he has hired an attorney.