Man arrested after stabbing Wednesday

A Bloomington man was rushed to the hospital after he was stabbed in the stomach Wednesday night.

Bloomington resident Russell H. Hart, 50, was arrested Wednesday night after police say he stabbed a 40-year-old Bloomington man, said Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Jeff Canada, reading from a police report.

The altercation began at 8:17 p.m. Wednesday when both of the males were at a female’s apartment on the 1200 block of W. Allen St., Canada said.

The female kicked Hart out of her apartment for unknown reasons, Canada said. Hart and the man both left the apartment and began walking outside.

The two were seen by witnesses and the female talking near the parking lot of the apartment complex, Canada said. Hart stabbed the man in the stomach with a steak knife and twisted it sideways, causing the handle to break off.

Witnesses saw Hart leave the scene in a maroon two-door Buick, according to the report.

After being stabbed, the Bloomington man tried to walk back to the apartment and was shouting that he had been stabbed, Canada said. He laid down on the sidewalk and took the knife out of his stomach.

The man was taken to the Bloomington Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, Canada said. The status of his condition is not known.

Officer Dana Cole was able to locate Hart with the car description on the 700 block of W. Dixie St., Canada said.

Hart was taken into custody, Canada said. Hart denied having anything to do with the stabbing, but officers located the handle of the steak knife when searching him.

Hart was arrested and faces a preliminary charge of aggravated battery, a Class B felony.