An Anthony man who called law enforcement because a man slapped him ended up being the one arrested when it was determined he pulled a knife on the other man.
Reuben Donnell Lewis, 61, of 2941 NE 86th Lane, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill after the incident, which happened around 12:30 p.m. Monday outside his sister’s residence on NE 27th Terrace.
Lewis told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy he confronted the victim about the victim stealing his tools. He said they got into an argument and the victim smacked him. The deputy observed a small cut under Lewis’ lip. Lewis said the victim’s friend was present and observed what happened, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Lewis provided an address on NE 86th Lane where he said the victim was possibly headed. The deputy located the victim and the eyewitness in the front yard of the residence. The victim said he and Lewis argued over Lewis accusing him of stealing his tools, but it was only a verbal argument and nobody touched anyone, the report said.
The witness said Lewis rode his bike to the incident location, where he confronted the victim. He said that during the altercation, Lewis displayed an orange knife with a black blade and told the victim, “I’ve got something for you.” The witness said Lewis walked towards the victim and held up the knife as if he was going to strike him, according to the report.
Asked a second time what happened, the victim said he slapped Lewis but it was in self-defense after Lewis displayed the knife. He said when Lewis walked towards him and raised the knife, he struck Lewis and fled the scene. The victim said he didn’t want to pursue charges, which is why he first said no physical altercation occurred, the report said.
The deputy returned to the incident location and asked Lewis if he has a knife or if he threatened the victim with a knife, and Lewis said no. The deputy then described the knife and Lewis admitted he had one with him during the altercation but never took it out, according to the report.
When asked where the knife was, Lewis said it was in the living room in his sister’s residence. The deputy received permission from the homeowner to search the home and found the knife on a table behind the front door. The eyewitness confirmed it was the knife that Lewis pulled on the victim, the report said.
Lewis was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Tuesday on $2,500 bond. He’ll appear in Marion County Court on Dec. 31.