Victim Suffers 3-Inch Stab Wound To Neck: East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — A "violent assault" left one man suffering from a three-inch stab wound to his neck, East Haven Police said. Police arrested a local man early Friday.

At 2:52 a.m. on Russo Avenue, police responded to a stabbing incident. A male victim called 911 to report that he had been stabbed in the neck by an acquaintance, Jason Taylor, 44, and that the incident was "unprovoked," police said.

The victim was found to have a stab wound to his neck. "Through the investigation it was learned that the two acquaintances were at #267 Russo Avenue smoking crack cocaine before the attack," Police Lt. Joseph M. Murgo said.

The victim told officers that Taylor walked up from behind him and slashed his neck with a steak knife for "no apparent reason," police said. The victim told officers that this attack was unprovoked and that no altercation preceded the attack, police added.

The victim said that after being stabbed, he fled the residence and drove home before calling the police. The victim was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Police then searched for Taylor and Taylor ended up calling 911 and said he fled the home and could be found on Eastern Street, police said. He told police he fled the residence after using drugs with the victim, and that the victim pulled a knife out on him and attempted to rob him, Murgo said.

Taylor said a fight ensued, at which point he was able to disarm the victim, police said. Taylor stated that during the brief struggle, he cut the victim “somewhere on the face” before fleeing the residence, Murgo said.

"Officers went back to Taylor’s residence, where the altercation took place and found a crime scene, which included drug paraphernalia in plain view, consistent with what was told to officers initially. It was also evident that a violent assault occurred," Murgo said.

Taylor of Russo Avenue is charged with second-degree assault and is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.