Russell Smith

A Mars man was charged cutting a coworker on the back on his neck with a box cutter Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Aldi Distribution Center in Clinton Township.

Russell E. Smith Jr., 41, was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault, misdemeanors simple assault and recklessly endangering another person and summary disorderly conduct. He is being held in Butler County Prison in lieu of $450,000 bond.

According to an affidavit filed Monday, state police were dispatched to the facility at 3:26 p.m. for a report of an employee assaulting another employee with a box cutter, and Smith was taken into custody at 3:41 p.m.

The alleged victim told police that he and Smith had argued in the cooler area earlier in the day, and he left following the argument.

Then, as the alleged victim was preparing the leave for the day, Smith ran toward him and cut him in the back of the neck with a box cutter causing a significant laceration, police said.

After a brief struggle, Smith was removed from the area and detained by other workers until police arrived, police said. The box cutter was found and placed into evidence, police added.