Man who allegedly stabbed himself stealing a phone waives charges
A man who allegedly stabbed himself trying to steal a phone from Walmart waived his charges to the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday.
David Lincoln Lee, 47, of Lemont Furnace was flown to a hospital for treatment after the accidental stabbing at the South Union Township Walmart in September.
Lee waived his charges in exchange for a tentative plea deal for probation, according to his attorney, public defender David Kaiser.
Lee allegedly used a knife in an attempt to open the package of a Straight Talk Wireless phone when he stabbed himself in the arm.
Police said he was bleeding excessively and left a trail of blood behind him in an aisle as he attempted to leave. Police said he took a towel from a shelf and wrapped it around his arm.
Walmart staff approached him after the stabbing and followed him out the door where they saw him leave in a vehicle. Police said he drove himself to Uniontown Hospital, and Walmart employees reported his license plate number. Police said he was immediately apprehended.
Lee was flown from Uniontown Hospital to UPMC-Presbyterian because of the severity of his injuries. A hazardous materials team was called to clean his blood from the store.
Lee is charged with retail theft and criminal mischief. He is free on a $5,000 unsecured bond.