STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — Court documents obtained by the Stevens Point Journal paint a picture of what may have happened at Politio’s Pizza the night of November 18th.
That’s the night that 28-year-old Joseph Stalnaker is accused of stabbing two people during a scuffle in the bathroom after a night of drinking.
According to the documents Stalnaker cut in line at the Men’s bathroom at the facility even though he knew his actions would upset others that were waiting, telling police he “had to go bad.”
Stalnaker then heard someone enter the restroom behind him and said someone hit him. That’s when he grabbed a knife out of his pocket and opened it, swinging it in an attempt to get out of the bathroom.
One of the victims, a 24-year-old former bouncer, saw the situation unfolding and intervened to separate the men. He said he thought he was scratched on the neck with a fingernail, and it was only after others told him he was bleeding badly that he realized he had a cut nearly 8 inches long and 2-3 inches wide. An update on his condition has not been made available.
Stalnaker then fled to his home and told his roommate he thought he killed someone. He hid his blood-stained paints in his home, then took his handgun and fled to Waupaca County where he was later arrested.
He faces charges recklessly causing injury, felony battery, and recklessly endangering safety. His next court appearance is set for December 17th.
If found guilty on all charges Stalnaker could face over 70 years in prison.
