A neighbor was cut on her finger Sunday when state police said she disarmed an Avonmore man who was swinging a knife in the street, according to court papers.

Richard W. O’Brien, 45, was being held without bail on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault and resisting arrest in connection with the incident.

Troopers said they were called to Third Street around 8:30 p.m. for a reported stabbing. Neighbors told investigators that O’Brien was in the street yelling and screaming and got into a confrontation when several residents came outside. He threatened to get a gun, but instead retrieved a knife from his home and swung it at one of the neighbors until another was able to grab it off of him, according to court papers.

They directed troopers to O’Brien’s home where he claimed that he didn’t do anything wrong and resisted arrest, according to court papers.

When police got him into custody and outside to a patrol unit, troopers said he spit on one of them. They put a hood over his head and police said O’Brien continued to spit inside of it, according to court papers.

O’Brien was denied bail during his Monday arraignment to ensure his appearance at his preliminary hearing on Aug. 15, according to online court records. He was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. He did not have an attorney listed.

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