Olivia, Minn., man faces assault charge for Friday stabbing

OLIVIA -- A 47-year-old Olivia man made his first court appearance Monday on a felony second-degree assault charge for allegedly stabbing a man Friday.

Unconditional bail was set at $50,000 for William Thomas Lewis Sr., according to Renville County Assistant County Attorney Glen Jacobsen. Conditional release was allowed on his personal recognizance, provided Lewis have no contact with the alleged victim.

According to the complaint, an Olivia police officer, who was assisted by a Bird Island officer, was dispatched to Henton Avenue and arrived to find Lewis wearing a blood-covered T-shirt. He presented the officers with a knife that he said was used in the stabbing.

One of the officers located the 19-year-old man who had been stabbed and, with assistance from another person, administered first aid until ambulance crew members arrived. The man had multiple lacerations to his lower abdomen and arm and was barely coherent. He was taken to Renville County Hospital and then transported to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis for emergency surgery on his abdominal wounds.

A witness allegedly told officers that the younger man had started a physical confrontation with Lewis by punching him and that the confrontation escalated to the point where Lewis stabbed the man.

Lewis was arrested, taken for medical treatment and did not agree to speak with investigators.