Two injured, one arrested in knife fight

The new year started with some violence in Slidell as two men got into a knife fight outside an Olde Towne bar early Thursday morning.

Capt. Kevin O’Neil, Slidell police spokesman, said both men were injured in the fight, and one was arrested and charged with aggravated battery.

Despite the arrest, O’Neil said details on the altercation are very sketchy, and detectives are still trying to piece together what exactly happened.

What is known is that Ira Stone III, 29, and Maurice Harris, 41, both of Slidell, got into a verbal argument in the Time Out bar. They took the fight outside, but O’Neil said what happened next is unclear.

“There are two versions of what happened, and there are a lot of holes in both stories,” O’Neil said.

As a result of the fight, Stone was cut across his face, and Harris was stabbed in the lower left of his chest. However, police were not able to locate the weapons on either man, nor in the area, O’Neil said.

When police arrived on the scene they found Stone alone with a cut that went from his cheek to his mouth. Emergency personnel determined Stone needed stitches, but Stone declined medical treatment.

Police were told Harris had gone back to his apartment on Carey Street, and they went there and arrested Harris without incident. When Harris was being booked, police discovered the stab wound to his chest. O’Neil said Harris also declined medical treatment. He said Harris was arrested because some witnesses said he provoked Stone.

But O’Neil said detectives are still talking to witnesses and bar employees to find out exactly what happened. O’Neil said there might be more people involved in the incident.

“We’re thinking a third person was involved,” O’Neil said.