Parolee arrested, accused of stabbing man in the neck

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BROOKINGS – A Brookings man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault Wednesday night after police say he stabbed another man in the neck.

The incident was reported at 8:27 p.m. Wednesday and occurred in the 500 block of 12th Street South, Brookings Police Sgt. Joel Perry said.

William Chopper, 29, of Brookings, was transported to the Brookings County Detention Center. He was recently released on parole, Perry said.

The Brookings Ambulance was called to the scene and treated a 21-year-old Brookings man for a “minor laceration of the neck,” Perry said.

“He was transported to the Brookings hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” Perry said.

The two were known to each other, Perry said.

“Knife was collected from the scene,” he said. “It’s still under investigation.”

A probable cause statement from Brookings Police says officers responded to the scene for a report of a male stabbed in the neck. The victim and three witnesses allegedly identified Chopper as the suspect.

The probable cause statement says Chopper was arguing with the victim when Chopper allegedly stabbed the victim in the neck with a box cutter.

“Several individuals held Chopper down, and (the victim) was able to flee the residence,” the statement says.

Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson said Chopper was recently released from the South Dakota State Penitentiary, where he was serving time for a conviction last fall for simple assault against a law enforcement officer.

Chopper is being held at the detention center on $15,000 cash-only bond. His next court appearance is set for 9 a.m. Monday.