Springfield man pleads not guilty to charges stemming from sword stabbing

Harold Denney was arraigned Monday morning in Clark County Municipal Court.

Harold Denney was arraigned Monday morning in Clark County Municipal Court.

A Springfield man was arraigned Monday morning in the Clark County Municipal Court on charges stemming from an alleged sword stabbing.

Harold Denney, 49, pleaded not guilty to felonious assault, according to court records. He was given a $15,000 bond and remained in the Clark County Jail as of Monday afternoon.

Officers were dispatched around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday to the 1600 block of Mansfield Avenue on a report of a man with a ... ‘sword’ coming at people in the area, according to an affidavit filed in the case. Police were told there was an altercation in the front yard at a large party when Denney and the victim walked down the street towards the gathering.

“(A witness) advised (the victim) was yelling racial slurs towards everyone while advancing at them and swinging a sword that he had pulled out of a sheath he had on his belt,” the affidavit said.

Officers then met with Denney and the victim, who were both “highly intoxicated,” out front of a house in the 900 block of Southfield Avenue and told Denney if he was out walking around again he would be arrested, the affidavit said.

A short time after police left the area, they were called back out due to Denney yelling across the street.

“While on scene, officers were approached and advised in reference to (the victim) being stabbed. Officers went to (the 900 block of) Southfield Avenue and located (the victim) inside with a approximately five-inch stab wound in the upper part of his back,” the affidavit said.

Officers were also able to see a blood trail starting from the sidewalk of the 1600 block of Cypress over to the 900 block of Southfield Avenue, the affidavit said.

Medics responded and took the victim to the hospital, where he said he wanted to pursue charges because “Denney tried to kill him.”

“He stated he went across the street to check on a female. When he arrived at the house, Denney immediately attacked him and began swinging the sword at him and stabbed him in the back,” the affidavit said.

Denney was then arrested and placed in jail.

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