A Scranton man was arrested late Friday after holding his housemate hostage for more than 10 hours, threatening to kill her if she tried to leave and then stabbing her after she attempted to run out the door.
Scott Stolarik, 29, of 429 Prospect Ave., is facing charges that include two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, recklessly endangering another person and making terroristic threats, Scranton police Sgt. Michael Perry said.
The incident stemmed from an argument between Mr. Stolarik and Starla Noffsinger, 33, on Thursday, when Ms. Noffsinger deleted a text message before Mr. Stolarik could read it, police said.
Arguments over the message continued into Friday, and at about 8:30 a.m. Ms. Noffsinger told Mr. Stolarik she was leaving, prompting him to ask her for money for "the security deposit," police said.
When she told him she didn't have money, Mr. Stolarik retrieved his hunting knife, refused to let her leave and threatened to "slice her throat if she tried to," Sgt. Perry said.
Over the next 13 hours, Ms. Noffsinger "screamed, pounded on the walls" and twice attempted to leave, Sgt. Perry said.
After Ms. Noffsinger tried leaving a second time, Mr. Stolarik cut her face with the knife, stabbed each of her legs and punched her "several times in the face," police said.
Someone outside the house called police at about 9:40 p.m. Friday, who responded and found Ms. Noffsinger shining a flashlight and waving her arms out a window.
With Mr. Stolarik distracted, Ms. Noffsinger ran out the door. She was transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center.
Mr. Stolarik is being held at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. A hearing is set for 9:45 a.m. on Monday, April 15.
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