Christopher Boltz

A 30-year-old Butler man was stabbed during a fight outside the Eau Claire Street Cafe on Friday night, police Chief Bob O’Neill said Monday.

Jonathon Fusaro Podobensky was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital, then flown by helicopter to a Pittsburgh trauma hospital, where he is in stable condition with a wound to his abdomen, O’Neill said.

Christopher Boltz, 40, of Butler, was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault/bodily injury with a deadly weapon following the incident.

Boltz was arraigned Sunday morning by District Judge Kevin O’Donnell and is being held at Butler County Prison in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

Police were dispatched to the scene of a fight at 416 Eau Claire St. around 9:17 p.m.

According to charging documents, three witnesses told police that the fight began shortly after Boltz arrived at the Eau Claire Street Cafe. The altercation took place in the street, police said, and escalated when Fusaro Podobensky got on top of Boltz and was repeatedly punching him.

A witness separated the two men, who continued shouting at each other, according to the affidavit. Boltz allegedly charged at Fusaro Podobensky and stabbed him in the lower right abdomen.

Police arrived on scene and witnessed Boltz being refused entrance to the bar. Once taken into custody, a pocket knife covered in blood was found in his pants pocket.

According to charging documents, Boltz told police he was “jumped by three guys,” that Fusaro Podobensky threatened to kill him and that he “cut him” in self-defense.

Fusaro Podobensky was charged with simple assault.

Butler City Police, Butler Ambulance and Butler Fire Department responded to the incident.

As of Monday, a preliminary hearing for Boltz was not scheduled.

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